Audrey Way

Audrey J. Way, 78, of Pierre, died Sunday, July 8, 2012 after a short battle with ovarian cancer. Her funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 13 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre. Visitation will be Thursday, July 12 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. wake service all at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre. Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Audrey was the first born child of 17 on March 14, 1934 to Ambrose and Vera (Black) Engelhaupt in White River, SD. She grew up in Spencer, Nebraska and graduated from Spencer High School in 1951. She earned her teaching certificate at the Southern State Teachers College and taught country school for one year in Gregory, SD. Due to the long hard winters and nearly freezing to death in 1954 she moved to Winner to help out at Leo Black?s Market where she met the love of her life, Donald Ray Way. They were united in marriage on January 5, 1955 and moved to Sioux Falls. To this union nine daughters were born: Linda, Cherry, Kate, Kathy, Connie, Lisa, Laura, Rhonda Jo and Doneen.
Don graduated from electronics school and they moved to Pierre and later relocated to Sturgis, St. Onge, Spearfish and Whitewood where Don worked various jobs and later moved to Lead where Don worked for the Homestake Gold Mine. Audrey devoted her time and love to raising her children. In December 1970, Audrey was widowed when Don passed away from lung cancer leaving Audrey to raise her nine daughters alone. She faced this challenge head on and enrolled in Black Hills State College and in 1974 received her teaching degree. In August of the same year Audrey and her nine daughters moved to Lemmon, SD where she taught special education for the Lemmon School District until May, 1983. Audrey was very dedicated to her students and was very devoted to the Special Olympics. She received the ?Adult Education Teacher of the Year? award in 1980. In the fall of 1983 Audrey moved to Walker and later to McLaughlin, SD to teach for the BIA at Bullhead Day School and during this time Audrey raised three of her granddaughters from 1984 until 1992 when they went to live with their dad. She retired on disability after teaching for eleven years at Bullhead Day School in May 1994 and soon after retirement Audrey?s oldest daughter Linda that was developmentally disabled moved back home. In February of 1998 Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. Audrey cared for her until she passed away in January of 2000. Audrey moved to Pierre in 2006 when her mother passed away in order to take on the responsibility of being guardian for her two developmentally disabled brothers, Albert and Joe, and her sister Doris.
Audrey was affirmed in her Catholic faith and was a member of the Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre. She enjoyed spending time with her family and cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading romance novels, crocheting afghans for her family and playing on her computer. She was a very loving and giving person and will be remembered for her courage, strength, determination, generosity and caring spirit.
Audrey is survived by eight daughters, Cherry Benz of Bismarck, ND, Kate Shopteau (Curt Horsley) of Draper, SD, Kathy (Frank) Droz of Pierre, Connie (Mark) Gupman of Orient, SD, Lisa (George) Wentz of Lemmon, SD, Laura (Mel) Frank of Lemmon, SD, Rhonda Jo (Tim) Leins of White, SD, and Doneen (Darin) Sanders of Pierre; 24 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 9 sisters; and 5 brothers.
She was preceded in death by her husband; oldest daughter; grandson Donald Ray Way II; infant granddaughters Jocasta and Jolene Bolte; infant great-granddaughter Audrey Camille Hill; parents; three brothers, Martin, Alvin, and Bernard Engelhaupt.