Audrey Falk

Audrey Jane Falk, age 76, of Willmar, died Tuesday morning, August 9, at her home in Willmar.

Her memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 27, at Bethel Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Friday, August 26, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials preferred to either Bethel Lutheran Church, Willmar Area Arts Council or the FSH Society.

Audrey Lee was born on April 14, 1935, at home in St. Anthony Park, St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Clarence and Inga (Stormo) Lee. She grew up in the St. Anthony Park community, graduated from Murray High School and from the University of Minnesota in 1958. Later that year, Audrey began teaching Art in the Willmar Schools.

In the Fall of 1958, she met Richard Falk at Bethel Lutheran Church. They were married in June of 1960 at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, where Audrey was baptized and confirmed.

Audrey was one of the 5 person board that started the Barn Theatre. She taught drawing at the Willmar Community College (now Ridgewater) and became a full time artist. She designed the first poster for Celebrate Art and painted the 14 Stations of the Cross for Bethel Church, where she served on the Visual Arts Committee. She also had an article on computer art published in "School Arts Magazine".

Audrey was 1 of 2 American Artists invited to attend the 1st International Plein Air on Painting in honor of Marc Chagall in his birthplace, Vitebsk, Belarus in 1994.

Her art has been sold by Sotheby's in New York City and over 100,000 reproductions have been sold for charity.

She was a member of Chapter EN of PEO, a 50+ year member of AAUW and a member of the Willmar Area Arts Council. Audrey mentored in our schools and served as a volunteer at our jail.

Audrey received the "Service to Mankind Award" from the Willmar Sertoma Club; "Woman of the Year Award" from Business and Professional Women's Club of Willmar and the first "Arts & Academics Hallmarks of Pride" award from the Willmar Public Schools Foundation.

While their family was living in Ethiopia, working as volunteers for the Lutheran Church, Audrey taught Art at 3 different schools. Many friendships were made and several Ethiopian students came to live with Audrey and Richard while attending college in Willmar.

Audrey loved the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou and Robert Frost. She enjoyed good books, classical music and quiet time with her paint brush.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Falk of Willmar; one daughter, Susan (and Peter) Freeman of Lexington, KY.; and two granddaughters, Alexandra and Rachel Freeman. Also surviving are two siblings, Patsy (and Merton) Johnson of San Antonio, TX., Robert Lee of Geneseo, Il., besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; their newly born son, Neal Alan in 1968; and two brothers, John and Eugene (Moose) Lee.

The family wishes to extend a sincere thanks to Gerry Ann Thompson, Dr. Tom Breen and Dr. Norris Anderson for all their assistance in caring for Audrey.