Obituary for Audrey D. (Nelson) Willard

She married James “Jim” Willard on January 4, 1949, in Fairmont, MN. Daughter, Sherry, was born in December 1949. Son, Jim, was born in June 1960. Through the years, the family lived in Fairmont, Arlington, Norwood, New Germany, and Monticello. They worked on the Willard family farm in New Germany, MN for many years.

Following that, they moved to Monticello, MN where Audrey became a caregiver for several families, helping to raise their children like her own. She gardened, canned vegetables and fed many people around her table with her wonderful baking and home cooking. She loved “snooping” at garage sales and flea markets, always looking for a bargain.

After the death of her husband of 72 years in January 2021, she moved to La Crescent, MN to be closer to family. She continued to love the outdoors, even walking to the grocery store and the bank well into her 90’s. She was happiest when her hands were in the soil and she was in the sunshine.

She moved into Claddagh Senior Living in Caledonia, MN in February 2025. Over the last 4 years she was able to spend more time getting to know Priscilla, her daughter-in-law’s mother. They spent more time together at holiday meals, and riding (and laughing) on their way to appointments.

She loved visiting on the phone with Bobbie, Siggy, Wally, Wanda, Belva, and Diane, always having a sympathetic ear and a hearty laugh. The family agrees one of her favorite sayings is “you never know!”.

Audrey is survived by daughter, Sherry of Burnsville, MN; son, Jim (Vicki) of Brownsville, MN; and 3 granddaughters, Stephanie (Will) of Smyrna, GA, Courtney (Prahbu) of Burnsville, MN, and Katie (Brannen) of Great Falls, MT. She will also be missed by great-grandson, Stellan of Burnsville, MN; sister, Bobbie (Norman) of Clearwater, MN; sister-in-law, Belva of Brainerd, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Claddagh Senior Living and staff for their compassionate care; Gundersen Hospice; and all her providers at Gundersen for over 4 years.

Honoring Audrey’s wishes, there will be no services. She will be laid to rest with her husband at St John’s Lutheran Cemetery in New Germany, MN, at a later date.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia Chapel, Caledonia, Minnesota is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at this site.