Auverne Laura Raatz was born March 13, 1928, in St. Paul, MN and was raise as a farm girl there with her parents, Louis and Florence Rechtzigel and brothers, Elroy and Louis Jr.

She was a life-long Lutheran and was where she met her husband, Robert, as a fellow choir member at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN following his return from his WWII service in the U.S. Army. They were married at Immanuel on September 4, 1948 and were married 74 years. They had four daughters, Linda (Thomas) Ray of Barnhart, MO, Karen Maney and Joan Raatz of Tulsa, Susan (Steve) Bunn of Tulsa; Six Grandchildren and Twelve Great Grandchildren.

In 9159 the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa and ultimately to Tulsa, OK with Robert's transfers with Cities Service Oil Company(Now OXY). Auverne joined the workforce and was the Pastry Chef for 25 yeas at Memorial High School in Tulsa (remember those fresh baked cinnamon rolls, etc!)

Auverne was always involved in various church functions, but her cooking and organizational skills were what she enjoyed giving the most at several Lutheran churches in Tulsa. She cooked meals for thousands of the homeless population at First Lutheran's Manna Bowl and Meals on Wheels.

She made many quilts with her Joy Lutheran friends for Cancer Treatment Center in Tulsa. Her hands were always busy crocheting countless hats for Cancer Treatment Center and newborn hats for the local Tulsa hospitals. She crocheted numerous afghans in between hat making.

Auverne delighted in being involved with the Tulsa Petal Pushers Garden Club. She love to be with her family and was always ready to play a game of cards at the drop of a hat! She really liked to reminisce about growing and working on the family farm and enjoyed sharing her recollections of this good ole by-gone days.

Memorials may be donated to The American Cancer Society of Oklahoma/Susan G. Komen(As Auverne was a two time brest cancer survivor) or to Meals on Wheels.

Viewing will be 10AM-7PM on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at the Moore Southlawn Chapel, 9350 East 51st St., Tulsa, OK. Funeral Services will be 10AM Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at the Joy Lutheran Church, 9940 South Yale Avenue, Tulsa, OK followed bu interment at Floral Haven Cemetery.