Ardith Syverson

Ardith Syverson, age 88, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Tuesday (May 10th) at McIntosh Senior Living in McIntosh. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday (May 14th) at Vernes Lutheran Church, rural McIntosh with Pastor Ryan Rasmussen officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Friday (May 13th) and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday, all at Vernes Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Billy Graham or the Gideons. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home, serving McIntosh and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Ardith Grace Syverson was born on the family log home in Hill River Township, Polk County, Minnesota on December 8, 1922. Her parents were Rudolph and Clara (Martinson) Syverson. She was baptized and later confirmed her faith in Jesus in Vernes Lutheran Church of rural McIntosh, Minnesota. In this congregation she was a lifelong member.Ardith received her elementary education in Lindsay, a one room country school, located three quarters of a mile from the family home. During her freshman year of high school she lived with a family in McIntosh. Her sophomore year included a morning and evening ride with a neighbor and other students in a Model A Ford car. She moved up and her last two years she enjoyed a ride in a big orange bus. She graduated from McIntosh High School in 1941.Ardith worked as a home helper for neighbors and Pastor Megorden in Fosston for two years after high school. During this time she felt a calling to do something more with her life so she enrolled in a one year Normal Training course in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Following this training she taught school for four years in two country schools in Eden and Queen Townships. But Ardith had a bigger and higher calling in life. Following the death of her mother she stayed at home to care for her father and a large family of six brothers and two sisters. She cooked, she cleaned, she canned, she baked, she washed and mended clothes, she cut the hair for her father and brothers, she removed slivers from fingers, she grew a garden and flowers and was a babysitter for many nieces and nephews. She was the "Mother" of the home and family.Ardith continued to live in the home in which she was born taking wonderful care of the family. She watched as one by one the family members moved on to school and work. Finally Ardith and Norris were the only two left in the humble family home. Family members, siblings, nieces and nephews, always have known there is a home where they would be welcomed with a friendly greeting and abundance of food. Sometimes it would be a full delicious meal and other times an "Ardith Lunch." That lunch had to be experienced-it defies description. The food was always delicious and two items were especially desired-Ardith's homemade bread and homemade jelly. Many people besides family have experienced and enjoyed hospitality in the home of Ardith and Norris.How fortunate the family has been. How thankful each member is for the home Ardith and Norris have provided. Ardith taught Vacation Bible School many years in Vernes and other places-one being in the Tokio Indian Mission in North Dakota. Many youngsters have been fortunate to have her as their Sunday School teacher. The women's group in church was always important to her. In all places-family, congregation, and community, her light has shone brightly. She has touched many lives in far away places through Christian Missions. All that Ardith did was a reflection of her faith in Jesus. She loved because Jesus first loved her. Ardith was a devoted student of The Bible. She studied privately and with groups. It should be noted that Ardith knew from memory many Bible verses. These she knew to the very end. All of this sustained her in daily life and in death.After surviving several surgeries over the last years she was struck down again just before Christmas 2010. In the months that followed, her life became difficult with weakness and shortness of breath. In April she moved to the McIntosh Senior Living Home.Ardith answered the last call from Jesus on Tuesday, May 10th. Jesus said "Come to me you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. This was one of Ardith's favorite Bible verses. And now she rests in peace.Ardith was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters-Alvira Knutson and Clara Quam; four brothers-Francis, Edwin, Alan and Rupert. Also an infant brother Walter and two infant sisters, Doris and Elaine; four brothers-in-law, Archie Knutson, Lourie Finseth, Roger Vind and Bruce Hanson; and one sister-in-law, Christine Syverson.Left to mourn her passing and to carry on Ardith's unfinished work are three sisters, Anola Finseth, Mary (Richard) Loing, and Faith Hanson; two brothers, Norris and Gordon; brother-in-law, Roy Quam; two sisters-in-law, Mavis Syverson and Eleanor Syverson. Also surviving are 37 nieces and nephews, many grand and great grand nieces and nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.God bless the memory of Ardith Syverson in the lives of all who knew her, loved her and worked with her throughout her sojourn in this world.