Audrey Joachim

Audrey Jean (Horning) Joachim, age of 95, of Milbank, SD, formerly of Watertown, SD, was welcomed into God's Heavenly arms on March 26, 2022 at Avantara Care Center in Milbank, SD.

The visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the services at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022 at Gracepoint Church in Watertown. Reverend Jeff Ruggles will officiate.

Burial will be in the Cresbard Cemetery, Cresbard, SD.

Pallbearers will be Mike and Matt Joachim, Todd and Shane Copeland, Randy and Kevin Horning, and Josiah Copeland.

Audrey Jean Horning was born on June 30, 1926 to Lloyd and Grace (Harris) Horning at Cresbard, SD. Audrey attended school at Cresbard, SD, and graduated in 1944. She always showed us the path (road) where she walked to school each day.

Audrey played on the girls basketball team and always played as a guard. Audrey loved to ride her horse, Mike, and often left Ben in the "dust", as Ben would say.

Audrey loved playing outside with her brothers and just recently told us how she and her siblings would climb out of her bedroom window and play on the porch roof.

Audrey married Benjamin Joachim on November 1, 1945 in Pierre, SD. They took their friends along and got married at the Methodist Church.

Ben and Audrey resided in the Cresbard area and farmed there until 1956, when they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Ben began his study for the ministry.

They moved to Conner, Montana in 1958, where Ben became the pastor of the Conner Wesleyan Church, and they lived in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley until 1975. Audrey's gift of hospitality was enjoyed by all the church family and friends. Everyone loved her delicious, yummy cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls that she faithfully made each Saturday, as well as a pie or dessert and jello salad. She was always prepared and ready for whomever Ben would invite over after church for a meal or snack at any time of the day.

Audrey's artistic abilities were shown with her occasional chalk drawings at church which were done during the singing of the hymns (how nervous she was)! Audrey's view of Trapper's Peak from her kitchen window at Conner, Montana can be seen in many of her beautiful, scenic mountain oil paintings, which are treasured by many family and friends. What talent she had!

Ben and Audrey moved to Medicine Rocks, Montana in 1975 and pastored the Medicine Rocks Wesleyan Church until 1991. Audrey's musical ability to play the piano and organ and singing duets with Ben was a great attribute in their ministry.

Ben retired in 1991, after 33 years of being in the ministry. They then moved to Watertown, SD, where they were very involved with the Watertown Wesleyan Church, once again making many new friendships, never to be forgotten. Audrey's "sauerkraut" hotdish was her specialty for church potluck dinners in her later years at Watertown Church along with her pie or salad.

Shortly after Ben's death in 2013, Audrey moved to Milbank, SD, and lived with her daughter, Nancy Copeland, until entering the nursing home in 2019, when she fell and broke her hip.

Audrey was always ready to play a game of Scrabble, enjoyed doing her Word Find books, and was always sharp at guessing the old hymns that Nancy played on the piano for her many times each week... special memories never to be forgotten.

Audrey will always be remembered as a quiet, kind, "Christ-like," caring person who never complained about anything, but always had a smile and "thumbs-up" for all. She always said "Thank You" for everything, and made sure to tell certain family members to "Shape Up!"

Audrey is survived by her children, Richard (Marian) Joachim, of Poplar Bluff, MO, and Nancy (Mike) Copeland of Milbank, SD; brother-in-law, Paul Joachim of Klamath Falls, OR; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Benjamin; her parents, Lloyd and Grace Horning; her three brothers, Lawrence, Dale, and Royce Horning; daughter-in-law, Frances Joachim; and grandson, Phillip Benjamin Joachim.

Audrey will be forever missed around the family table, and will always be remembered in our hearts and minds. Audrey will be glad to see Jesus, but won't Jesus be glad to see her too!

Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel - http://www.wightandcomes.com.