Audrey Carrol (Johnson) Wise

Audrey Wise (Johnson), age 70, of Zimmerman, Minnesota passed away on November 16, 2025, after a battle with dementia.

Raised by William and Phyllis Johnson on a farm northeast of Napoleon, North Dakota, she enjoyed the farm life with animals. Audrey showed exceptional piano skills starting at 4 years old and won many competitions in addition to attending the International Music Camp at the International Peace Gardens in North Dakota for 6 years with internationally renowned teachers. Aside from the piano, she had fond memories of playing first trombone in the Napoleon High School stage band and touring other schools in North Dakota.

Audrey graduated from Napoleon High School in 1973 and attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota to study music and archaic languages. She graduated Cum Laude from Concordia in the fall of 1976. In 1976 she married Dennis Wise and 3 years later they had a son, Ashley. She continued teaching piano lessons for many years and ran an antique business for 20 years. Audrey loved gardening, collecting rocks, hiking and watching the wildlife on their retirement place.

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Dennis Wise; son, Ashley (Beth) Wise; 3 grandchildren, Linnea, Emberlei, and Juneau; and brother, William “Billy” Johnson.

A visitation will be held Friday, November 21, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Dare’s Funeral Home, 805 Main Street NW, Elk River, MN. 763-441-1212. www.daresfuneralservice.com

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