Audre Rusness

Audre Houglum Rusness, 102, of Moorhead, MN, died Sunday, September 6, 2015, in Eventide Senior Living, Moorhead, MN. Audre Houglum was born to Andrew Houglum and Sophia Ebeltoft Houglum on the Fourth of July, 1913. She lived at 310 4th St. S, Moorhead, the original Houglum residence for 100 of her 102 years and was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She attended Moorhead Public Schools and graduated from Moorhead High School in 1931. She attended North Dakota Agricultural College which later became North Dakota State University where she majored in Physical Education Recreation/Gymnastics and was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Mother’s Club.

As a high school student, she ushered at the new Moorhead Theater on Center Avenue. She was a student of Marie Early Reineke in ballet, “soft shoe,” and acrobatics. She served as assistant instructor for Marie Early in Fergus Falls and Valley City and was selected as Drum Majorette for the North Dakota State American Legion Band in 1929, becoming the first Majorette to attend National conventions in Detroit, MI 1931, Portland, OR 1932, Chicago, IL 1933, and St. Louis, MO 1934.

She served as Secretary-Treasurer for the Clay County Farm Bureau and Agricultural Adjustment Administration. Audre married Donald G. Rusness “Babe” on June 6, 1941. Babe served as Clay County Clerk of Court for 30 years. He preceded her in death in 1972, as did four sisters: infant Lois Celeste, Muriel Hollands, Virginia Houglum, and Jacqueline Thorne. She is survived by her brother, Andre Emily Houglum; son, Donald, Jr.; granddaughter, Ana Rusness-Petersen; two nephews, Frank Judi Hollands and Chuck Thorne; three nieces, Doroles Merrill Johnson, Debra Joel Haugen, Sandra Thorne; and ten great-nephews and nieces.

The memorial gathering will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., followed by the memorial service at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, September 9, in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.