Audrey Mae (Berry) Langbehn Obituary (1926

Audrey Mae (Berry) Langbehn, 90, of St. Joseph, transitioned to her Heavenly home on Friday, January 27, 2017 at Hanson Hospice Center, St. Joseph, MI. A private family service will be held at a later date, and a celebration of life gathering will be held this summer at Lake Summerset, IL. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to the First Church of God Prime Timer Group. Condolences may be left at www.hovenfunerals.com. Audrey was born March 30, 1926 at home in Wisner, LA to Pat Homer and Carrie Lee (Parker) Berry (later Whitsitt). She graduated from Bastrop High School and attended LSU at Baton Rouge and then Arkansas State. She received a business certificate from Spencer Business College, Baton Rouge, LA. After college, she worked for the VA. During a trip to New Orleans, she met the love of her life, Naval Aviator, Lt. JG William N. Langbehn. On April 25, 1946, Audrey and Bill were married in Jonesboro, AR. The following day, they "motored" to San Francisco via Route 66 and eventually sailed on the Lurline for Oahu, HI to begin their life together. Following WWII, Bill was discharged from the U.S. Navy and began flying DC-3s for Hawaiian Airlines between the islands. Audrey worked for the VA and as an Assistant Administrator with the Civil Service. Two children, Bill Jr. and Mark were born in Hawaii. The family left Hawaii in 1957 and lived in Searcy, AR, Owatonna, MN, Greendale, WI, and Beloit, WI. In Owatonna, a third son, Kirk, was born. In Beloit, Audrey worked for Beloit Corp. as an Admin. Asst. in the advertising department. In 1972, the family moved to Lake Summerset, IL where Audrey worked for 25 years as Office Manager for the Lake Summerset office. In 1996, Audrey retired and moved to Stevensville, MI to be closer to her family. For the past 3 years, Audrey resided at the Whitcomb in downtown St. Joe and enjoyed her life there. It truly became her home. Audrey was a social person who loved garage sales, playing bridge, dancing, traveling, trips with Prime Timers at FCOG, singing with the Whitcomb Warblers, gatherings with family and friends, and especially the social activities at the Whitcomb. In addition to her parents, Audrey was preceded in death by her step-father, Richard Whitsitt, beloved in-laws, Henry and Peggy Langbehn, and by her husband of 48 years, Bill. She is survived by her sister Patsy (Berry) Vidrine of Baton Rouge, LA and her brother, Donald (Fran) Berry of Dallas, TX; sons William (Susan) Langbehn of St. Joe, Mark (Susan) Langbehn of New Glarus, WI, Kirk (Nancy) Langbehn of Grand Rapids; grandchildren Shawn, Christopher, Gregor, Erika, Krisann, and Andrew; great-grandchildren Mark, Ella, Henrik, Myles, and Emerson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Audrey and Bill lived an adventurous life which included airplanes, farming, camping, fishing, and various businesses which provided great examples for their boys. Audrey's life can best be summed-up by a few words contained in her wedding write-up from 1946: "She was a charming girl with a wide circle of friends." Indeed she was. Thank you to the Whitcomb and all of the staff members and residents who made her feel so much at home, and to Lakeland Hospital and Hanson Hospice.