Audrey Claire Fincke

Audrey Claire Fincke, daughter of Walter and Martha Gilbertson, passed away in Claremore, Oklahoma on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Audrey was born in the Starbuck, Minnesota hospital on December 2, 1941, just a few days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Yes, there was a bit of family teasing that she was the cause of the attack. During her youth, Audrey greatly enjoyed vocal music. In addition to singing in the church and high school choirs, she wrote 3-part harmony of popular songs and gospel music for a trio consisting of Audrey as tenor, and her sisters Jeannie and Ruthie as alto and soprano.

After graduating from Glenwood High School in 1959, Audrey attended St. Cloud State University. In her senior year, she was invited to participate in the Student Project for Amity Among Nations (SPAN) study abroad program, where she was able to travel to Nigeria, Egypt, and then Europe. After her university graduation in 1963, Audrey chose to join the Peace Corps, where she met her beloved husband Lawrence, "Larry," Fincke. They were married June 5, 1964, and began their life together in Minneapolis. When Larry was sent to the Philippines during the Vietnam War, Audrey joined him for the last year of his tour, where they participated in missionary work during Larry's time off. Upon their return to the U.S., Audrey and Larry added their precious daughter Jeannie to the family.

Audrey spent most of her career as a computer programmer / analyst, where she predominantly worked in the oil and healthcare industries. As a devout Christian, much of her free time was spent in the Church, where she was a leader in the women's ministry. Additionally, she co-ran a bus ministry and team-taught Sunday school classes with Larry. In her later years, she enjoyed family time with her daughter Jeannie and granddaughter Abi.

Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Martha, her brother, Peter, and her husband, Lawrence. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jeanine and Jason Leonard; her granddaughter Abigail Norris; her sister Jeannine Churchill; her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Neil Thielke; and her sister-in-law Karolyn Gilbertson.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28