Audrey Hartje, 62
Audrey Hartje, 62, leaped into Jesus’s arms at 6 p.m. on Dec. 14, 2022.
The second she breathed the air of Heaven, her pain and suffering were gone! She was joyfully greeted by her father, Russel Stegman and her brother, David Stegman, as well as her father-in-law Leonard Hartje and her brothers-in-laws Dale Spiedel and Ray Brown, along with many others who loved and adored her.
Audrey Stegman was born Feb. 26, 1960, in Cavalier, N.D., to Russel and Mabel (Berg) Stegman. She grew up in Cavalier and attended high school there. Between 1976 and 1978 she worked at the nursing home in Bathgate, N.D., a job she loved very much but chose to leave to go to college for a year. She married the love of her life, Curtis Hartje on March 2, 1979, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cavalier. Shortly after, she started her job at Motor Coach Industries, where she worked for 38 years until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Audrey loved to garden and can, but her biggest joy in life was serving others. She had such a selfless heart and always put everyone’s needs before hers. She was always busy serving the Lutheran Church in Neche, N.D., in any way she could. Helping on the Relay For Life committee for 10 years was also a great joy of hers. She lived for her grandbabies and they were the only reason she fought to live for so long. She would visit and play with them every available minute she had.
Although the last five years of her life was a sad tale, she strongly exampled what it’s like to walk a difficult road with Jesus by your side. Yes, it was filled with great suffering and pain, but she understood what it meant to carry the cross for Jesus. The Holy Spirit filled her with such strength, courage, peace and comfort. When she found out she had two months to live, she calmly smiled and said, “You should be happy for me!” Giving all of us around her such great comfort.
She is survived by: her husband, Curtis Hartje; children: Trisha (Hartje) McCurdy, Kent McCurdy (son-in-law), Rachael (Hartje) Thompson, Steven Thompson (son-in-law); grandchildren: Kadence McCurdy, Gryffen McCurdy, Gracelynn McCurdy, Aiden Thompson, and Cole Thompson; mothers: Mabel Stegman and Lorraine Hartje (mother-in-law); brothers: Mark Stegman, Gary Stegman, Gary Hartje (brother-in-law); sisters: Gwen (Stegman) Tagliabue, Susan (Stegman) Spiedel, Kris (Pollestad) Stegman, Sue (Hartje) Brown; nieces and nephews: Coy Stegman, Jedidiah Stegman, Jennifer (Krutsinger) Grabinger, Joel Stegman, Erin Stegman, Katelyn Stegman, Kyle Stegman, David Brown, Bobby Brown, and Barbie (Brown) Hoffarth.
Funeral service will be held Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at 10 a.m. at the United Lutheran Church in Cavalier. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at the United Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Growing Hope in Pembina County, Faith in Action, Pembina County Food Pantry or Pembina County Social Services.
Online guestbook available at www.askewfuneralhome.com.
