Ardis Menking
d. October 13, 2017
Ardis Bernice (Evjen) Menking, 89, of Maynard, Minnesota passed away on Friday, October 13, 2017 at the Clara City Care Center as a result of a stroke suffered the previous week.
“Ardie” was born on January 24th, 1928 in Starbuck, Minnesota to John and Olga (Anderson) Evjen. Her family grew up on Lake Minnewaska where they owned and operated a Sinclair Service Station as well as vacation cottages they rented out during the summer. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck. She graduated from Starbuck High School and then St. Cloud Teacher College before she began teaching in Maynard, Minnesota where she met her future husband, Fran. They were married on a Wednesday evening, July 23, 1952, when Fran came home on leave before he deployed for his year-and-a half tour of duty in Germany.
Ardie had a long career teaching elementary school in the area including Maynard, Montevideo and also in Fergus Falls while Fran was in the service. While teaching in Maynard she took a few years off after the birth of her daughter, Judy and son, Dan. She returned to teaching and also finished her four-year degree from Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota before retiring in 1989.
An active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Clara City, she was involved in WELCA, Bible Study, quilting and taught Sunday School for many years. She had many groups of friends she loved to spend time with including her Homemakers group, the Birthday Club and the Legion Auxiliary. After her retirement at age 60, she and Fran spent 24 years traveling together. They especially enjoyed traveling and adventures with good friends Richard & Elaine Fagen and Larry and Rita Tomes. Eighteen of those years were spent in Mission, Texas where they had great friends they were always anxious to meet up with each winter. Ardie loved her family and will forever be remembered for her brownies, pies, knitting Christmas stockings and creating so many quilts for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to quilting and knitting, she loved sewing, reading, playing cards, wordfind puzzles, adult coloring, flower gardening, and in past years swimming, camping and especially fishing trips with Fran.
Ardie is survived by her husband of 65 years, Fran Menking, her sister Joan (Bruce) Skeie of Coon Rapids; in-laws Lloyd (Corrine) Menking and Gerry (Ron) Quast; her daughter, Judy (Terry) Noble of Maynard, her son, Daniel (Sue) Menking of Webster, SD; her grandchildren Josh (Kris) Noble, Jamie (Christian) Price, Nathan (Miriah) Noble, Kristi Menking & fiancé Kelsey, Becca Menking, Ross Menking; great grandchildren Olivia, Ava, Colton and Lainey Noble; Landon Price; Eve and Cora Noble; beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Olga Evjen, her brother, Norris Evjen and her mother and father-in-law, Carl and Trena Menking.
Thoughts I’d Like to Share with You
Written by Ardie
My deepest values are based around our Christian beliefs: sharing, caring and trying our best to live and lead good lives.
I was proud of reaching my goal to get my degree in education and to reach out to children through my years of teaching. I am proud of our children and grandchildren – they have all done well. I am proud to have Fran as my best friend and husband.
“Ardie” was born on January 24th, 1928 in Starbuck, Minnesota to John and Olga (Anderson) Evjen. Her family grew up on Lake Minnewaska where they owned and operated a Sinclair Service Station as well as vacation cottages they rented out during the summer. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck. She graduated from Starbuck High School and then St. Cloud Teacher College before she began teaching in Maynard, Minnesota where she met her future husband, Fran. They were married on a Wednesday evening, July 23, 1952, when Fran came home on leave before he deployed for his year-and-a half tour of duty in Germany.
Ardie had a long career teaching elementary school in the area including Maynard, Montevideo and also in Fergus Falls while Fran was in the service. While teaching in Maynard she took a few years off after the birth of her daughter, Judy and son, Dan. She returned to teaching and also finished her four-year degree from Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota before retiring in 1989.
An active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Clara City, she was involved in WELCA, Bible Study, quilting and taught Sunday School for many years. She had many groups of friends she loved to spend time with including her Homemakers group, the Birthday Club and the Legion Auxiliary. After her retirement at age 60, she and Fran spent 24 years traveling together. They especially enjoyed traveling and adventures with good friends Richard & Elaine Fagen and Larry and Rita Tomes. Eighteen of those years were spent in Mission, Texas where they had great friends they were always anxious to meet up with each winter. Ardie loved her family and will forever be remembered for her brownies, pies, knitting Christmas stockings and creating so many quilts for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to quilting and knitting, she loved sewing, reading, playing cards, wordfind puzzles, adult coloring, flower gardening, and in past years swimming, camping and especially fishing trips with Fran.
Ardie is survived by her husband of 65 years, Fran Menking, her sister Joan (Bruce) Skeie of Coon Rapids; in-laws Lloyd (Corrine) Menking and Gerry (Ron) Quast; her daughter, Judy (Terry) Noble of Maynard, her son, Daniel (Sue) Menking of Webster, SD; her grandchildren Josh (Kris) Noble, Jamie (Christian) Price, Nathan (Miriah) Noble, Kristi Menking & fiancé Kelsey, Becca Menking, Ross Menking; great grandchildren Olivia, Ava, Colton and Lainey Noble; Landon Price; Eve and Cora Noble; beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Olga Evjen, her brother, Norris Evjen and her mother and father-in-law, Carl and Trena Menking.
Thoughts I’d Like to Share with You
Written by Ardie
My deepest values are based around our Christian beliefs: sharing, caring and trying our best to live and lead good lives.
I was proud of reaching my goal to get my degree in education and to reach out to children through my years of teaching. I am proud of our children and grandchildren – they have all done well. I am proud to have Fran as my best friend and husband.
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