Audrey Hinrichs

Audrey Hinrichs

LAUREL — Audrey Hinrichs, 87, Laurel, died Aug. 3, 2022, at Park View Haven Nursing Home, Coleridge.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Aug. 23, at the United Methodist Church, Laurel, with the Rev. Patrick Broz officiating.

There will be a private family burial at the Laurel Cemetery, Laurel.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m., at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.

Audrey was born Oct. 15, 1934, in Randolph, to William and Nina Cunningham. She grew up on a farm outside of Randolph and graduated from Randolph High School in May 1952. She married George Hinrichs, Laurel, July 23, 1952. George was in the military at the time and she lived with him during the early months of their marriage in Colorado Springs, Colo., while he was in basic training. When he shipped out to Korea, she moved to Laurel, working for and living with Darrel and Carrie Dahl. She was nanny to their two sons, Tom and Lee, and helped out wherever they needed it. She came to consider them family and cherished them for the rest of her life. Upon George’s discharge from the military, she moved with George northeast of Laurel, where they farmed for approximately 40 years. In 1994, she and George retired from farming and moved to an acreage north of Laurel, where they remained until Audrey moved to Laurel upon George’s death in 2021.

She was a hardworking farm woman, all the while tending the house and raising their three daughters. She worked for a time as a cook in Laurel and was involved in her church, including teaching Sunday school for many years and being part of Women’s Circle. She enjoyed cooking, baking and entertaining. She always looked stylish. She was a devoted grandmother to her grandchildren in Seattle, always making a point of being with them for their birthdays and important events. She loved entertaining them when they came to visit the farm. She was devoted to those she thought of as grandchildren in her heart.

Audrey is survived by three daughters, Pam Hinrichs (William Starks), Seattle, Wash., and their children, Sam Starks, Seattle, Wash., and Madison Starks, Tarzana, Calif.; Michell Hinrichs, Omaha; Mitzi Hinrichs (Bob Merry), Seattle, Wash.; two sisters, extended family and many dear friends and neighbors.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Hinrichs; her parents, William and Nina Cunningham; nine sisters and two brothers.

The family requests memorials be directed to the Laurel United Methodist Church.