Audrey Quast died Jan. 27 on Martha’s Vineyard after living a full and active life. She was 90.

She spent her final few months being cared for by family on the Vineyard, but she was a child of Minnesota and was Minnesota through-and-through. Audrey lived in Zumbrota, Minn., for 65 years and even after moving to the Vineyard she subscribed to the Zumbrota News-Record and watched church services streaming on a laptop computer from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in her home town. When she would pick up the phone to chat with friends and family back home she would always ask, “So what’s going on down in Zumbrota?” And as anyone who knew her can attest, she loved to chat, especially about family and the old days.

Audrey Margaret Elliott was born on the family farm on April 21, 1930, in Harmony, Minn. to Wesley and Patricia Elliott. She was one of nine children (brothers Wesley, Lowell, Orville, and Virgil, and sisters Blanche, Marjorie, Lorilee, and Wahnita Marie). Audrey would often reminisce about her younger years and passion for dancing at weekend socials in Rochester, Minn. She enjoyed dancing well into her 80s. After she met and married her husband John Quast, the couple lived on White

Willow Farm in Goodhue County until they moved into Zumbrota in 1975.

They had three daughters. Julie died tragically at the age of five. Kathy was born in 1962 and Patty in 1965. Audrey’s focus was on taking care of her home and family but for several years she worked as a lab technician at Mayo Clinic and then in the local dairy industry.

After the death of John in 2011 Audrey spent more time with friends and family. She traveled when she could, and made several trips to Florida with her sister Marie to visit her daughter Patty at her vacation home in Naples. Above all Audrey loved just being a member of her community, especially church potluck gatherings on Sunday. She was a good neighbor.

After a health setback, Audrey moved to Martha’s Vineyard in March 2020 to be cared for by her daughter Patricia, just as the Covid pandemic was starting. Many of her Zumbrota friends regularly checked in on Audrey after she moved to the Vineyard, and she in turn checked

in on them. Letters and cards from them were eagerly received and read with pleasure. The move to the Vineyard was intended to be temporary so she could eventually return to her beloved Zumbrota, but after more setbacks and with Covid making it even more challenging to return home, she settled into life on the Island. She was superbly cared for by Melissa Powers, and the two were a fixture in their yellow VW Bug, whether at Polly Hill Arboreteum, Nat’s Corner, or the thrift store. Thanks to Melissa, Audrey had a fun-filled final few months of her life that were documented in many Facebook posts titled The Adventures of Audrey. Audrey never quite mastered her cell phone but that didn’t stop her from being an enthusiastic participant in Martha’s Vineyard’s excellent Center for Living Zoom sessions where she loved singing and exercising with the other group members and being a not-infrequent winner in Bingo.

She was predeceased by her husband John Quast, daughter Julie, and grandson Asa. She is survived by her daughters Kathy and Patty, grandson Truman, granddaughter Clara, brother Virgil, and sisters Lorilee and Wahnita. She leaves behind many friends and fellow congregants at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Zumbrota, all of whom will miss her friendliness and zest for life.