1936 – July 26, 2003

Audrey Watzek, 87, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Edgewood Memory Care in Sioux Falls.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, July 31, 2023, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls.

Audrey Jean DeYong, daughter of Art and Helen (Kreun) DeYong was born in Leota, Minnesota.  She graduated from high school in Luverne, Minnesota, and later moved to Sioux Falls. 

Audrey was united in marriage to Leo Watzek on June 20, 1959. She stayed home to raise her family before becoming the manager at Hickory Farms for three years.  Leo and Audrey then purchased the Cookie Jar and ran it for 11 years, before retiring in 1996. Audrey was the master baker and Leo was the manager of quality control.  She loved traveling, cooking, baking, dancing, bowling, and most of all spending time with family.  Whenever her children and grandchildren would come home to visit, she would challenge them to her mad Wii bowling skills.  

Audrey has been a longtime member of First Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Following Leo’s passing, she enjoyed attending The Center for Active Generations.  Audrey had a huge heart and welcomed everyone into her circle.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Lori Donahue and her husband, Kerwin Burton of Gillette, Wy., Kurt Watzek of Phoenix, Ariz., and companion, Lynda Mae of Tempe, Ariz., Lisa Leverson and her husband, Mark of Shakopee, Minn., and Lynn Robinson and her husband, Gary of Sioux Falls; brother, Verle DeYong of Rapid City; sister-in-law, Jan DeYong of Anchorage, Alaska; grandchildren, Justin Vrooman, Kierra Donahue and her fiancé, Cody Wood, Logan (Haley) Watzek, Lyndsey Watzek and her fiancé, Connor Hanisch, Casey (Kati) Ellis, Amber (Jim) Granacker, Sam Leverson, Hannah Leverson, and Matthew (Marrina) Robinson; great-grandchildren, Lynneigh, Noah, and Kylie Vrooman, Xavier and Jade Vrooman, Tony Reyna and Kylo Wood, Addy, Audra, and Aiden Watzek, Haley, James, Riley, and Abi Ellis, and Barrett Robinson; nieces and nephew, Kristy, Jenna, Nicole, Taryn, Tristen, Danine, and Derek DeYong; along with a host of additional family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Art and Helen DeYong; husband, Leo Watzek; brother, Arlan DeYong; three siblings in infancy; and grandson, Jeremy Vrooman.