Audrey Lou Rieken

Audrey Lou Rieken (nee DeSart)

Audrey was born in Brownsdale, Minnesota on November 1, 1934, one of four children to Leona (nee Rabine) and Iven DeSart. She grew up in the same town as Mitchell Rieken and they attended Elkton High School together. Mitchell was older than Audrey and they were married on July 19, 1952, after she graduated from high school.

Following graduation, Audrey got a job in the Twin Cities and Mitchell enlisted in the United States Army. He served overseas in Germany for two years while Audrey worked for St. John's Hospital. Upon his return, Mitchell began working at Ford Motor Company and they made their home on the East Side of St. Paul. They began attending Mounds Park United Methodist Church and have been parishioners for over 50 years.

They lived in a very close knit neighborhood and they often had card parties with the neighbors. Audrey kept the flowers looking beautiful. In their early years, Mitchell and Audrey loved to dance and they were very good at it.

Audrey loved to bowl and that is something she and Mitchell enjoyed together. She took her daughter and granddaughter on a very special Disney World and Disney cruise trip many years ago. As a family, playing cards was always great fun for everyone.

In 1986, Mitchell retired from the Quality Control Department at Ford Motor Company and just a year later in 1987, Audrey retired from St. John's Hospital from within their Nursing Department. They became snowbirds and bought a house in Mesa, Arizona for their winters away. The realized they missed the social aspect of neighbors so they later sold the home and moved to a mobile home community. After retiring, they began working at an entertainment company that hosted casino parties for corporations.

Audrey is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Mitchell Rieken; her parents, Iven and Leona (Rabine) DeSart; her step-father, Walter "Lefty" Cooklin; her two infant daughters, Mary and Michelle; and siblings, Everett DeSart, Lois Deyo, and Donna Burdette. She is survived by her three children, Scott (Jill) Rieken of Edina, Todd (Laurie) Rieken of Cedar/Oak Grove, and Melissa (Mike) Dyrdahl of Cambridge; her grandchildren, Ben (Jill), Corey (Abbey), Amanda (Mike), Emily (Dylan), Josh (Jo), Nichole (Dave), Hailey (Tom), Taylor (Chris), and Riley (Cole); her great-grandchildren, Trenton, Sophia, Mitchell, Cole, Jack, Cash, Vada, Charlotte, Tommy, Eddie, Levi and Greyson; and many other relatives and friends. The family is planning a service at Mounds Park United Methodist Church, 1049 Euclid Street, St. Paul. Details to be announced soon. Those joining are invited to stay for a luncheon after the services. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery will take place at a later date. A very special thank you to Superior Hospice and Legacy Home Care. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the family.