Audrey Jean Teigen

Audrey Jean Teigen, age 94, passed away October 7, 2021, at her home in North Mankato.

Born Audrey Munson on July 12, 1927, she and her family moved often. Audrey attended Worthington Community College, where she met Doug Teigen. They married on June 15, 1950. The family eventually settled in Jackson in 1963, living in the same house on Fifth Street for more than 50 years.

Audrey was an extraordinary mother, raising four children, Cindy (Odegard), Kristi (Hoffman), Kari and Tom. The family also included three wonderful foster children, Sandy, Susie and Paul. Though a wonderful cook, Audrey’s heart was in baking. She spoiled her family and their friends with a steady stream of homemade caramel rolls, cinnamon rolls, jelly rolls, donuts, candy, cookies, cakes and bars. “Save room for dessert,” she’d say.

Though certain of her faith in Christ, Audrey, like many, struggled with the big questions about how a loving god could allow pain, suffering, poverty, starvation, abuse and neglect. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and found meaning in helping others. Volunteering at a home for special needs children led to foster parenting, which led to the Home for Creative Living. Originally intended for Jackson, HCL opened in Windom in 1977, and grew over the next 30 years into Habilitative Services/Preferred Residential Lifestyles.

An empty nester in the 1980s, Audrey became a Home Start teacher working with families across Jackson County. She dove into the role, attending workshops, earning certificates, developing lesson plans, teaching children and building relationships that would last long after she retired in 1991. 

With her dog Pee Wee, Audrey moved to Monarch Meadows, a North Mankato assisted living community in 2013 to be closer to her family. She quickly became an “ambassador,” helping new residents feel welcome and at home. As she aged, she resisted help, doing as much as she could on her own — until she couldn’t. In the end, she learned the blessings of being helped by the wonderful people at Monarch Meadows. When she passed, she seemed at peace. All those big questions were answered. 

Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Doug; daughter, Kristi, and sons-in-law, Gary Hoffman and Mike Odegard. She is survived by her sister, Donna Erickson (also of Jackson); children, Cindy, Kari (Roni Garrick), Tom and Paul; grandchildren, Erik (Sarah) Odegard and Amy (Darwin) Hoffman; great granddaughters, Hannah and Emily Odegard, and many nieces and nephews. 

A visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., October 15, 2021 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 614 Logan Avenue, Jackson, MN, 56143. Funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the Southwest Initiative Foundation (for the Kristi Elaine Teigen Memorial Scholarship Fund), 15 Third Ave. NW, Hutchinson, MN 55350, or SWIFoundation.org. Northview-North Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family.