Avis Audrey Bray was born on January 20, 1914 to Guy and Lydia Belle (Bice) Bray of Bassett, Chickasaw County, Iowa. On May 2, 1935 she married Clarence Sigfrid Holtquist in Watertown, South Dakota. Six children were born to the couple. Prior to moving to Milbank in September 1962, they farmed near the Holtquist family homestead, the birthplace of Clarence.
Following the unexpected death of her mother Lydia, Avis worked began cooking and cleaning for other families. Through these experiences she began polishing her extraordinary baking skills. Following the death of Clarence in 1964, she continued baking for a number of weddings, anniversaries, and graduation ceremonies. She worked part-time at the A&W, the high school cafeteria, and at the Catholic parsonage for Fathers Shanley and Wagner. In 1967, she took her first "full-time" cooking position at the Milbank Mutual Insurance Company employee cafeteria. In August of 1969, she resigned from the company. She was appreciated by many, and was presented with a beautiful cross necklace of Black Hills gold. For the first time in her life, she took a well deserved vacation with her youngest daughter Dianne, traveling aboard the Santa Fe & Pacific Railroad to California. They visited there with her 3 children who resided in the Los Angeles area. She continued her baking and part-time work at the A&W until her health began to fail. In 1982, she moved to the Columbus Heights senior building. In 1995 she was no longer able to remain in her apartment and moved to the St. Bernard's Nursing Home where she passed away early Saturday morning, November 29, 1997.
Mom was known for her humor, great memory for birth dates, her love for reading, as well as her ability to let you know what she thought. Through all of her life trials, she remained strong in her faith that a special home, absent of pain and suffering awaited her. A few hours before her death, a special nurse told her it was okay to reach out and take Clarence's hand, he was waiting for her. She died about 4 hours later, and went to join Clarence, her beautiful mother Lydia and all her friends and family who went before her.
Six children survived her, Melvin of Chappell, NE, Marlin (Elsie) of Riverside, CA, Ralph (Tammie) of Denver, CO, Sharon (Charlie) Walters of Picayune, MS, Georgette (Jim) Saugestad of Blaine, MN, and Dianne Kelley of Minneapolis, MN. Also surviving her, 22 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, parents, and siblings Hazel, Stephen, Earl, and one great grandson.
"And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there.....no other has ever known."
Following the unexpected death of her mother Lydia, Avis worked began cooking and cleaning for other families. Through these experiences she began polishing her extraordinary baking skills. Following the death of Clarence in 1964, she continued baking for a number of weddings, anniversaries, and graduation ceremonies. She worked part-time at the A&W, the high school cafeteria, and at the Catholic parsonage for Fathers Shanley and Wagner. In 1967, she took her first "full-time" cooking position at the Milbank Mutual Insurance Company employee cafeteria. In August of 1969, she resigned from the company. She was appreciated by many, and was presented with a beautiful cross necklace of Black Hills gold. For the first time in her life, she took a well deserved vacation with her youngest daughter Dianne, traveling aboard the Santa Fe & Pacific Railroad to California. They visited there with her 3 children who resided in the Los Angeles area. She continued her baking and part-time work at the A&W until her health began to fail. In 1982, she moved to the Columbus Heights senior building. In 1995 she was no longer able to remain in her apartment and moved to the St. Bernard's Nursing Home where she passed away early Saturday morning, November 29, 1997.
Mom was known for her humor, great memory for birth dates, her love for reading, as well as her ability to let you know what she thought. Through all of her life trials, she remained strong in her faith that a special home, absent of pain and suffering awaited her. A few hours before her death, a special nurse told her it was okay to reach out and take Clarence's hand, he was waiting for her. She died about 4 hours later, and went to join Clarence, her beautiful mother Lydia and all her friends and family who went before her.
Six children survived her, Melvin of Chappell, NE, Marlin (Elsie) of Riverside, CA, Ralph (Tammie) of Denver, CO, Sharon (Charlie) Walters of Picayune, MS, Georgette (Jim) Saugestad of Blaine, MN, and Dianne Kelley of Minneapolis, MN. Also surviving her, 22 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, parents, and siblings Hazel, Stephen, Earl, and one great grandson.
"And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there.....no other has ever known."
Avis Audrey Bray was born on January 20, 1914 to Guy and Lydia Belle (Bice) Bray of Bassett, Chickasaw County, Iowa. On May 2, 1935 she married Clarence Sigfrid Holtquist in Watertown, South Dakota. Six children were born to the couple. Prior to moving to Milbank in September 1962, they farmed near the Holtquist family homestead, the birthplace of Clarence.
Following the unexpected death of her mother Lydia, Avis worked began cooking and cleaning for other families. Through these experiences she began polishing her extraordinary baking skills. Following the death of Clarence in 1964, she continued baking for a number of weddings, anniversaries, and graduation ceremonies. She worked part-time at the A&W, the high school cafeteria, and at the Catholic parsonage for Fathers Shanley and Wagner. In 1967, she took her first "full-time" cooking position at the Milbank Mutual Insurance Company employee cafeteria. In August of 1969, she resigned from the company. She was appreciated by many, and was presented with a beautiful cross necklace of Black Hills gold. For the first time in her life, she took a well deserved vacation with her youngest daughter Dianne, traveling aboard the Santa Fe & Pacific Railroad to California. They visited there with her 3 children who resided in the Los Angeles area. She continued her baking and part-time work at the A&W until her health began to fail. In 1982, she moved to the Columbus Heights senior building. In 1995 she was no longer able to remain in her apartment and moved to the St. Bernard's Nursing Home where she passed away early Saturday morning, November 29, 1997.
Mom was known for her humor, great memory for birth dates, her love for reading, as well as her ability to let you know what she thought. Through all of her life trials, she remained strong in her faith that a special home, absent of pain and suffering awaited her. A few hours before her death, a special nurse told her it was okay to reach out and take Clarence's hand, he was waiting for her. She died about 4 hours later, and went to join Clarence, her beautiful mother Lydia and all her friends and family who went before her.
Six children survived her, Melvin of Chappell, NE, Marlin (Elsie) of Riverside, CA, Ralph (Tammie) of Denver, CO, Sharon (Charlie) Walters of Picayune, MS, Georgette (Jim) Saugestad of Blaine, MN, and Dianne Kelley of Minneapolis, MN. Also surviving her, 22 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, parents, and siblings Hazel, Stephen, Earl, and one great grandson.
"And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there.....no other has ever known."
Following the unexpected death of her mother Lydia, Avis worked began cooking and cleaning for other families. Through these experiences she began polishing her extraordinary baking skills. Following the death of Clarence in 1964, she continued baking for a number of weddings, anniversaries, and graduation ceremonies. She worked part-time at the A&W, the high school cafeteria, and at the Catholic parsonage for Fathers Shanley and Wagner. In 1967, she took her first "full-time" cooking position at the Milbank Mutual Insurance Company employee cafeteria. In August of 1969, she resigned from the company. She was appreciated by many, and was presented with a beautiful cross necklace of Black Hills gold. For the first time in her life, she took a well deserved vacation with her youngest daughter Dianne, traveling aboard the Santa Fe & Pacific Railroad to California. They visited there with her 3 children who resided in the Los Angeles area. She continued her baking and part-time work at the A&W until her health began to fail. In 1982, she moved to the Columbus Heights senior building. In 1995 she was no longer able to remain in her apartment and moved to the St. Bernard's Nursing Home where she passed away early Saturday morning, November 29, 1997.
Mom was known for her humor, great memory for birth dates, her love for reading, as well as her ability to let you know what she thought. Through all of her life trials, she remained strong in her faith that a special home, absent of pain and suffering awaited her. A few hours before her death, a special nurse told her it was okay to reach out and take Clarence's hand, he was waiting for her. She died about 4 hours later, and went to join Clarence, her beautiful mother Lydia and all her friends and family who went before her.
Six children survived her, Melvin of Chappell, NE, Marlin (Elsie) of Riverside, CA, Ralph (Tammie) of Denver, CO, Sharon (Charlie) Walters of Picayune, MS, Georgette (Jim) Saugestad of Blaine, MN, and Dianne Kelley of Minneapolis, MN. Also surviving her, 22 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, parents, and siblings Hazel, Stephen, Earl, and one great grandson.
"And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there.....no other has ever known."
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