Grace Duncan Ausen

Alberta Grace Ausen was born to Albert H. “Bert” and Carrie (Moore) Bell on June 29, 1924 on a farm near Flandreau, South Dakota. She was raised in the Flandreau, South Dakota area where she attended the Smith and Bell Country School and then Egan High School. After her graduation from high school in 1942, she attended South Dakota State College in Brookings, South Dakota where she received her degree in home economics. On September 19, 1944, she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Art I. Duncan at the 2nd Presbyterian Church in Flandreau. Following their marriage, they lived on farms in the Egan and Flandreau areas. Art preceded her in death in 1970. In 1973, Grace moved to an acreage near Flandreau and began working as the secretary for Spafford Elementary School in Flandreau. On August 7, 1976, she was united in marriage to Holger Ausen at Rose Dell Lutheran Church in Jasper, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they resided in Jasper. After Holger’s retirement, they worked at the Monks Secondhand Store in Pipestone, Minnesota. In 1987, she began working at the Downtown Hobby Shoppe in Pipestone until the store was sold in 2010. Holger preceded her in death on June 12, 1999. After his death, Grace continued to reside in Jasper. Grace moved into the Sunrise Village in Jasper. In January of 2018, she moved into the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone where she resided until passing away peacefully on August 30, 2019 at the age of 95 years, two months, and one day.

Grace was a member of Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church. She had been a member of the Rose Dell Lutheran Church in Jasper. She was active in the Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School. She was a member of the Jasper Study Club, the Jasper Historical Society, and the Jasper Senior Citizens. She was a 4-H leader for over 25 years. She was also a member of the Health Advisory Council of the Pipestone County Medical Center. She enjoyed sewing, baking, making cards, antiques, and keeping her daily journal. She also volunteered at the Sunrise Village in Jasper. She especially enjoyed spending time with her friends and her grandkids.

She is lovingly remembered by her seven children, Sandra Masgai of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Gary (Pat) Duncan of Flandreau, South Dakota, Deon Jensen of Trent, South Dakota, Vicki Lynn (Robert) Peschon of Eden Valley, Minnesota, Paula (Tim) Kokel of Oakwood, Texas, Rod (Dawn) Duncan of Jackson, Minnesota and Grant (Kara) Duncan of Sherman, South Dakota; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two special friends, Kathleen Davis and Cherrie Wilson; seven stepchildren, David Ausen of Alexandria, Minnesota, JoAnne (Richard) Hackbarth of St. Joseph, Michigan, Jan (Tony) Stadler of Albertville, Minnesota, Marilyn (John) Laulainen of Waconia, Minnesota, Carol (Roland) Klindworth of Lake City, Minnesota, Orrin (Leslee) Ausen of Wahpeton, North Dakota, and Eileen (Paul) Karow of Madison, Wisconsin; many step-grandchildren; and a special nephew, James (Pat) Ausen and their family of Beaver Creek, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Art; her husband, Holger; her grandson, Brent Nelsen; her granddaughter, Emily Ausen; grandchild, baby Klindworth; her parents; and two brothers, Henry and Alvin Bell.