Audrey Kay Wacker Banks

Audrey Kay Wacker Banks, 69 of Billings, died from complications due to lung cancer, at Billings Clinic on Wednesday, January 18, 2006.

Audrey was born December 14, 1936 in Fargo, ND, a daughter of Erwin F. Wacker and Clara Gall Wacker.

Her father obtained work as a bookkeeper for Aldrich Lumber Co. and the family moved to Billings when Audrey was two years old. Audrey was a graduate of Billings Senior High School, class of 1955 and just celebrated their 50th class reunion last September. While in high school, she was in the Senior High Majorette Corp. After her third year at the University of Montana, she married Richard Banks of Havre, MT in the fall of 1958. They lived in the St. Paul, MN area until 1970 when they were divorced.

Audrey then moved to Kansas City, MO where she obtained a position with her step-father, C.T. "Tad" Sanders' and the Livestock Marketing Association. She worked for thirty-three years before retiring as Records Department Manager, in June of 2003. During her time with LMA, Audrey traveled to many states for the association's annual conference and was responsible for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Competition for many years. Audrey moved to Billings in September 2003 and was just settled into her new apartment when her health problem was discovered.

She will be remembered by her family and friends as a cheerful, hard-working, resourceful co-worker and friend. She was an avid Kansas City Royals baseball and Chiefs football fan. Audrey was an animal lover and had a special little buddy, Tuffy, at Butterfly Homes.

She was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie J. (H. Harold) Kelso; nephew, James H. (Joanne) and great-nephews, Michael J. and Dylan M.; her niece, Jodi D. (Peter S.) Borowick and great-nephew, Jacob S. and great-niece Rebekah C. "Bekah", all of Billings; stepsister Sharon (Dwayne) Fields and family of Camarillo, CA, sister-in-law, Judy Banks Demetriou and nephew Todd Banks, of Palm Desert, CA, plus numerous cousins. She was so fond of her nieces and nephews and along with Marj and Harold, there were her family. Jane Barge of Kansas City was a special friend, along with her other LMA co-workers.

Special thanks are extended to Dr. Tom Purcell and Vicki and the staff at Billings Clinic for their care of Audrey. Other thanks to the staff and residents of Butterfly Homes for their care and friendship. Audrey resided at Butterfly Homes the past year and one-half and was so happy living there with the residents, special friends Cheryl, Buck and Swede and the great care givers. Beth and Bernie, your caring of Audrey is greatly appreciated by all the family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Monday, January 23, 2006 at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. A reception will follow in the foyer. Burial will be at Mountview Cemetery following the reception.

Memorials may be made to the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center in Billings, or the Billings Animal Shelter.