Ardyce LaMae (Severson) Johnson passed away on Friday, October 28, 2022 at the age of 93. She was surrounded by family and friends praying with her. Ardyce was committed to a life of faith, love, and service. She is deeply missed. "I like to think of beginning every day with, 'This is the beginning of another beautiful day, and it is up to us to make the most of it and that it becomes a special day'"

Ardyce was born on September 21, 1929, in Ettrick, Wisconsin to Olaf and Helga (Thompson) Severson. Ardyce was born during the depression, but she would share how these challenges were not apparent to her because her parents were resilient and determined to make the best of whatever adversity they faced. Ardyce was the second of five children, her siblings: Harold (Lois) Severson, Arnold (Myrt) Severson, Donna (Ralph) Machemehl, Donald (Sandy) Severson.

The Ettrick, Wisconsin farm was situated on 120 acres of very hilly land with springs and plenty of trees for wood. In summer, Ardy would sit under the large tree across the road from the farmhouse and lean against its trunk and read a book, her favorite hobby. In the winter months, she would ski to school and at recess too. She loved pulling her younger siblings in the wagon and then on the sled in the wintertime. The farmhouse was small with a kitchen, living room, and three bedrooms, and an outside biffy. There was no electricity, plumbing or telephone but it did have a large floor model radio and a pot belly stove to keep warm in the winter months. The family attended the French Creek Lutheran Church and that is where Ardy was baptised and confirmed. Her grandparents, Grandma Lena (Hill) Thompson and Grandpa Hans Thompson, had a 1929 Chevrolet with a rumble seat that brought much joy to the grandkids. Ardy's grandparents and great-grandparents had migrated from the Valdres Valley in Norway. Ardy was deeply proud of her Norwegian ancestry, and she loved devoting time learning about Norway and the family genealogy. She visited Norway three times and one of those times was with her mother, Helga. "It is said that when God was creating the Universe, He practiced on the earth, leaving one small section for His final masterpiece. That masterpiece was Norway."

At age 12 (her 8 ^th grade year) Ardy moved to the Severson homestead in Lester Prairie, Minnesota in the spring of 1942 with her father (Olaf) and brother (Arnold) to plant the crops. Ardy walked Arnold to school. The following autumn, her mother (Helga) and eldest brother (Harold) and the twins (Donald and Donna) joined them at the Severson homestead for the autumn harvest and the moving of livestock and machinery. There they were members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Together they created many memories together, eating meals made by Helga with meat raised by the farm and vegetables and fruit from the garden.

Ardy wanted to be a nurse since she was 5 years old. Ardy was a good student graduating from Lester Prairie High School in 1947. She went on to attend Fairview Hospital of Nursing and graduated in 1951. Ardy worked for a year at the Minneapolis General Hospital. However, Ardy's love of skiing and the mountains brought her to Fort Morgan, Colorado to work as a nurse in the hospital. She was a dedicated nurse throughout her entire life working in hospitals, doctors' offices, and long-term facilities. She volunteered as the parish nurse for the rest of her life of 93 years! She used her medical knowledge, care, and lifelong commitment to help everyone in her family and community.

Her move to Colorado in 1952 was greeted with new adventures and landscapes. It was in Colorado that she met the love of her life, Roy Clifford Johnson. Both Roy and Ardy were devoted Lutheran Christians. Ardy met Roy at the home of one her nursing friends who was dating Bob Bigler and then they all went out for the evening. From then on, they never stopped sharing time together by going to movies, dances, trips to the mountains and visits to Minnesota for Christmas and also her mother's birthday on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Roy and Ardy were married on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953, at Ebenezer Chapel in Brush, Colorado.

Together, Roy and Ardy, built a beautiful family of three loving children in Wiggins, Colorado. Debra (Johnson) Frey, Craig Arnold Johnson, and Douglas Johnson. Ardy describes her children in these ways, "Children are a gift from God. We are to nurture, love, and care for them when they are small. When they are adults, we enjoy them and love their God given abilities. Every day we have them with us, as sometimes they are only on loan for a period. We must appreciate and be thankful (love) the gift of life as it is truly a gift. Craig, who died on July 6, 1982 will always live in our memories as a fine young man who contributed a great deal to our lives and many others."

Debra (Johnson) Frey married David Frey in 1979. Doug Johnson married Emily Westervelt in 1990.

Roy and Ardy moved to Minnesota from Colorado in April 1996. Roy died at the age of 70 in June 1996 after a battle with emphysema and lung cancer. Ardy and Roy celebrated 43 wonderful years together. After Roy' death Ardy's mother Helga moved in with her until her death in September 1997. Helga passed away at 99 years old. Ardy moved back to Colorado after the passing of Roy and her mother (Helga). Her spirits were lifted that Christmas as she went skiing at the age of 70 with her daughter Debra and David and her grandkids, Peter, Theresa, Amanda, and Andrew. They enjoyed the mountains and the snow laden trees together.

In 1999 she wrote, "The tragedies that happened in the last 17 years certainly took their toll, but we never were promised a rose garden. So, I will plant roses at my new home in memory of these beautiful people that had such an influence on my life."

Ardy was a proud grandmother. She would retell the memories of meeting each of her grandchildren with zeal and adornment. Ardy is survived by 8 grandchildren (Amie Menking, Peter Frey, Theresa Frey, Amanda Fray, Andrew Frey, Sven Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, and Margaret Johnson); 7 great-grandchildren (Ian Menking, Aidan Frey, Raina Menking, Alexis

Frey, Aiden Menking, Lena Frey-Pettibone, and Ada Fray); and a great-great-grandchild (John Menking).

Note: Quotes are excerpts mostly from Ardyce (Severson)Johnson's book she was writing. Please contact Ardyce's granddaughter, Theresa Frey, freytheresa@gmail.com for more information about her book and genealogy work.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, November 5 ^th at 10:00 AM at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Fort Morgan. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens. A reception will be held at the church.

Memorials may be made to Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Fort Morgan.