Ardella Jorgenson

Ardella Mae Jorgenson, age 88, of Park Rapids, MN, passed away early Saturday evening, December 26, 2020, in the home of her daughter and son in law, Scott and Cheryl Rising, Park Rapids, MN.

Ardella was born in Crookston, MN on November 2, 1932 to George and Minnie (Molenaar) Hodgson. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church and began her education in Crookston. As a young girl, she would later move with her family to CA for a short time before returning to Crookston. Ardella was a majorette with the Crookston Central High School marching band before her graduation as a member of the Class of 1950. She was then employed by the Credit Bureau in Crookston until marrying Robert Morris Jorgenson on March 14, 1953 in the First Presbyterian Church. The young couple began life together on the Jorgenson family farm near Fisher, MN. Over the years their marriage would be blessed by the births of 7 children. While farming with Bob, together they raised their children in a very loving home. Christian faith was a central part of Ardella’s life and as a devoted member of the Fisher Lutheran Church she taught Sunday school, participated in WELCA, and was very actively involved in Bible studies. As the kids were getting a little older she became a teacher’s aide for the Fisher Public Schools and later took on responsibilities as a secretary and then bookkeeper until 1992.  Ardella was a charter member of the Harmony Homemakers Club, and also held membership in the Fisher American Legion Auxiliary and the Past-Presidents Club of the Auxiliary. Bob and Ardella, during retirement, enjoyed traveling to visit all their children throughout the United States.  Sadly, Bob passed away on February 25, 2006.  Ardella enjoyed spending time with each of the children making her home in ND and MN.  Ardella loved spending her days reading. And while history and biographies were favorites, her passion was reading her Bible and the scriptures. No matter where she lived and worshipped Ardella always participated in the Church’s Bible study group. Her deep and abiding faith was her legacy to her children and their families. She loved to travel, see family, and participate in family reunions. Her daughter Terra took her on trips to Mississippi with her sister, Helen, to visit their sister, Marlene; to Lake Tahoe for her cousin’s reunion; to Estes Park in Colorado for another reunion with cousins; and then to MN and ND for the Jorgenson family reunions. Ardella’s love for her family was unparalleled and she cherished every moment shared with the children, grandchildren, and extended family. Ardella consistently and tirelessly expressed to all her children and grandchildren to ‘keep Jesus in your heart.’  Throughout the years she taught all of us to be kind, love each other, and care for others.

Ardella will be dearly loved and forever remembered by her 5 living children and their spouses: Cheryl and Scott Rising and Terra Jorgenson of Park Rapids, MN, Roberta Koval of East Grand Forks, MN, Dean Jorgenson of Duluth, MN, and Darryl and Barbara Jorgenson of Fisher, MN; 12 grandchildren: Tara (Adam) Hofmann, Andrew (Susie) Rising, Katelyn Rising, Michael Koval, Tricia Jaffery, Christopher (Breanna) Koval, Alissa Koval, James Jorgenson, Jessica Chappuis, Andrew (Rachael) Jorgenson, Matthew Jorgenson, and Joey Jorgenson; and 18 great-grandchildren. She also leaves siblings, Helen Bratvold of Crookston, MN, and Marlene Denham and husband, Don, of Gulfport, MS; sister-in-law, Clorise Jorgenson, of Fisher; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

In addition to Bob, her husband and best friend for over 52 years, Ardella was preceded in death by 2 precious children, a baby girl who died in 1955, and a son, Brent, who died at the age of 7 in April of 1967; a beloved grandson, Thomas Robert Jorgenson, in 2002; a beloved great-granddaughter, Anna Hofmann, in 2006; a grandson-in-law, Ali Jaffery, in 2017; her parents, George and Minnie Hodgson; an infant brother, Alfred Edwin; brother-in-law, Vernon Bratvold; and from Bob’s family: parents-in-law, Isaac and Bella Jorgenson; and his siblings and spouses: Mildred and Merrill Strobl, Aldoris and Marvin Reitmeier, Raymond and Mary Jorgenson, Wallace and Betty Jorgenson, and Sheldon Jorgenson. May God richly bless the memory of Ardella Mae Jorgenson.

A private graveside ceremony for immediate and extended family will be held for Ardella on June 12, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the Fisher Lutheran Cemetery with The Rev. Karen Young Trenne, officiating. The service will be live-streamed by logging on to www.stenshoelhouske.com, 5 minutes before the start of the service, going to the bottom of Ardella's obituary page, and clicking on the prompt to view. Additionally the service will remain to view as a recording for the 12 months. The Family would like to express their sincere thanks for your prayers and very kind expressions of sympathy.

Online registry and messages of condolence may be given at www.stenshoelhouske.com