Charlene E. Kelly, 83

Published 5:03 pm Saturday, June 2, 2012

Charlene Kelly

Charlene Elizabeth Kelly, 83 of Austin, passed away Friday June 1, 2012, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin, the day after her 60th wedding anniversary.

She was surrounded by her family.

Charlene was born Sept. 6, 1928, in Mountain Iron, Minn. to Andrew W. and Hilma (Frasa) Saari. She graduated from Mountain Iron High School in 1946, Virginia Junior College in 1948, and Minnesota School of Business in 1951. On May 31, 1952, she was united in marriage to Richard N. Kelly at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

They moved to Huron, S.D. for six years before making their home in Austin. During their years in Huron, Charlene was at Dick’s side hunting pheasants, geese, deer and antelope.

She was a very good cook and an expert at preparing filet of walleye. A member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, Charlene taught Sunday school for 25 years and served on the Youth Council. She was also secretary on the Board of Education for eight years and made evangelism calls. Charlene was a past member of the Zonta Club.

Charlene worked as a secretary at Hormel for 18 years, first at the Hormel Institute from 1968 to 1972, and then in the Research and Development department at Hormel Foods until her retirement in 1986. In 1991, they moved to Lake Vermilion in Cook, Minn. for 10 years before returning to Austin in 2001. During her life, Charlene pursued her career while raising four wonderful sons, who were also her best friends. Their home was always open to all of the boys’ friends. She taught their sons to be independent, caring, hard-working and honest. Charlene and Dick were very involved and they enjoyed their sons’ activities, golfing, cards, cooking, music, fishing, and helping with the flower gardens. She was a caring and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren having fun at the lake.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Richard N. Kelly of Austin; their four sons: Brian (Randi), Albert Lea, Minn., Jeffrey (Randi), Bloomington, Minn., Thomas (Holly), Buffalo, Minn., Michael, Forest Lake, Minn.; nine grandchildren: Kristin Kelly-Larson (Matthew), Rebecca, Paul, Katie, Megan, Matthew, Andrew, Betsy, Maxton; six great-grandchildren, Jacqui and Jayna Jepson, Connor, Garret, and Gretta Larson, and Riley Kelly.

She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Hilma; four brothers Ernest, Arthur, Raymond, Kenneth; one sister Dorothy Dolan. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin with Pastor Todd Portinga officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. ­There will be a private family interment. Memorials can be directed to St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Rest in peace, Grandma. Love, Krissy.