Ardell Miller

ARDELL IRENE MILLER was born November 2, 1918 to Fred and Frieda (Ploeger) Langner on the family farm in Brookings County, two miles south of Aurora, South Dakota. Due to the widespread flu in the area at that time she was baptized at home. She was confirmed on April 9, 1933 at First English Lutheran Church in Aurora. Ardell attended District #80 country school, which was known as “Camp School”, through the eighth grade. She attended and graduated from Aurora High School in 1936. She then did housework for the Martin family in Brookings, South Dakota and later the Kramer family in Elkton, South Dakota. On June 7, 1939 Ardell was united in marriage to Marvin Miller at First English Lutheran Church. The couple lived and farmed for three years south of Aurora. In 1942, they purchased a farm in Lincoln County, Minnesota where they worked and raised their three sons. In 1973, the couple moved into Lake Benton, Minnesota. Marvin preceded her in death on October 25, 1998. Ardell moved to the Lake Benton Manor in February 1999, where she resided until she became a resident at Danebod Village in Tyler, Minnesota in 2008. In August 2010, Ardell became a resident at the Hendricks Community Nursing Home in Hendricks, Minnesota where on Monday, June 15, 2015 she went to be with her Lord at the age of 96 years, 7 months and 13 days.

Ardell was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Elkton and was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Benton, where she had belonged to Dorcas Society. In her early years, she was active in various clubs in the area. She enjoyed dancing with Marvin, playing cards, especially pinochle, and was an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan. She loved to embroider and made several heirloom dishtowels. Ardell was very well organized and throughout her life did a remarkable job journaling daily. Many of those who knew her loved her potato salad, pickles, calico beans and fudge brownies. Most of all, Ardell will be remembered as a wonderful mother who loved all of her family.

Ardell is lovingly remembered by her three sons, Stan (Loralee) of Minneota, Minnesota, Fred (Maureen) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Robert (Marcia) of Lake Benton; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and a brother, Alvin of Garretson, South Dakota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; parents; and three siblings, Fern Gunn, Irma Wilbur and Lester Langner.