Ardella Emma (Rauen) Gilles, 88, of Austin, Minn. died Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Comforcare Good Samaritan Center.

Ardella was born April 23, 1923, to Mathias and Emma (Steiger) Rauen in Mitchell County, Iowa. She married Reuben H. Gilles on August 8, 1945 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. This union was blessed with six children: Norma (Charles) Willmarth, Bradenton, Fla., Eileen (Patrick) Hines, Eagle Lake, Minn., Harold (Susan) Gilles, Cross Plaines, Wis., Dolores (Garry) Nelson, St. Cloud, Minn., Cynthia (John) Vyrostek, Hudson, Wis., Kevin (Juanita) Gilles, Folsom, Calif.

Ardella was employed at St. Oalf Hospital for many years, retiring in 1987. She loved helping her family and grandchildren, friends and neighbors.

Survivors also include 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; sister, Margret (William) Schneider, Adams, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Hemann, Gloria Gilles; brothers-in-law, Greg Langenfeld, Marlin Krebsbach, Paul (Gertie) Gilles; cousins; nephews and nieces.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Reuben; two brothers, Arthur Rauen and John Rauen; three sisters, Bernata Mullenbach, Isabel Rothamel, Martha Schneider; daughter-in-law, Lani Gilles; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; cousins; nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Jim Steffes officiating. There will be a 4:30 p.m. CCW rosary and a 6:45 pm wake service on Tuesday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in Visitation Cemetery in Stacyville, Iowa.

Condolences may be sent to www.mayerfh.com.