Audrey Feleshia (Martin) Zahn Dewes

Audrey Feleshia Martin, 93, of Jamestown, ND, passed away Wednesday evening, April 20, 2022 at Ave Maria, Jamestown.

She was born March 12, 1929, in Dickey County, ND.  She was the first of 8 children born to Helena Vossler and Henry Martin.  Audrey attended rural country schools as well as school at Lisbon and Wishek, graduating from Forbes High School in 1947.  After high school, Audrey taught school for a year at Alberta Township in Dickey County.  She married Dan Zahn on May 8, 1948.  They ranched in the hills west of Forbes and had 7 children: Daryl Gene Zahn (Tammy) of Pierre, SD, Carol Deanna (Mrs. Darrel Holzmeister) of Oakley, KS, Wayne David Zahn of Bismarck, Daniel Ricky Zahn (Becie), Douglas Alan Zahn (Patty) of Forbes, ND, Peggy Louise (Mrs. Larry Stager) of Cresbard, SD, and Rhanda Gail Heller of Sioux Falls, SD. 

Audrey worked on the ranch in the hills west of Forbes, where she and Dan raised their children along with all her other chores.  She had a large vegetable and flower garden.  She was head cook at Forbes School from 1973-1980 as well as working part time at the Ellendale Nursing Home.  In 1980, she moved to Pierre where she worked at the Rawhide BBQ Pit with her son, Daryl, and also worked as a cook at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre and as a nurse aide at Mary house.  In 1985, Audrey moved to Crossroads Range Christian Camp in the Turtle Mountains at St. John, ND where she was a cook until she returned to Forbes in 1987 to help care for her parents and worked at The Ranch Restaurant in Ellendale, then as a cook at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale.

Audrey was very dedicated to her faith and part of that was cooking for the Lehr United Methodist Bible Camp each month of June from 1973 – 1989.

On August 21, 1989, Audrey was united in marriage to Howard John Dewes at Forbes.  They moved to New York City to work at The Bowry Mission at the Women’s Children Center until May 1990, when they moved back to Crossroads Range (Audrey loved the birds and woods there.)  In 1991, they moved to Beulah Christian Camp in Jamestown, ND, where Audrey worked a variety of jobs including childcare, housekeeper and home health aide to the elderly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Zahn; parents, Helena & Henry Martin; five brothers, August, Kenneth, Dale, Lloyd and Milton; step-sons, Curmath Zahn and Marvin Zahn; step-daughters, Joanne Giersdorf; step-grandson, Nathan Stager; 3 great-grandchildren, McKenzie Holzmeister, Wyatt Pulbarbek and Parker Kindelspire; and son-in-law, Gene Heller.

Things Audrey loved to do was spending time with her family and friends, adopting friends as family, bird watching, crocheting, gardening, quilting, baking and singing.  In her younger years she loved horseback riding.  Her passion was loving her Lord and sharing Him with others. 

She will be missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and lots of family and friends.  Audrey is remembered by her special adopted Jamestown family of Corey and Heidi Larson, and their children Megan, Jarron, and Ryan whom she was a part of their lives since they were born, picked them up from school, and didn’t miss many of their school programs, sporting and music events.  They loved her dearly.

The name Audrey means “Noble Strength” and she certainly had and needed that strength through her life.  She was the pillar that many people leaned on for support & prayer.  Her work ethic was legendary. She was active in church as a Sunday school teacher, in Ladies’ Aide, Sunday school treasurer.  She was a great supporter of her family and active in all her children’s lives.  She adopted people and they loved her for her character of being steadfast and true.  She carried her life’s trials with grace, though chronic pain was her constant companion, she had a huge heart and felt things deeply.  We were blessed to know her and have her in our lives and truly her “Reward” will be great in Heaven.  God Speed!!

She is survived by four sons; three daughters; three brothers; one sister; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law.  

Graveside Service – 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Ellendale Cemetery, Ellendale, ND.

Memorial Service - 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 24, 2022 at Fist Assembly of God, Jamestown, ND.

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