Ardis Mae Lesteberg, 91, Velva, formerly of the Sawyer area, died Wednesday, February 14, 2007 in a Velva Nursing Care Center.

Ardis was born December 1, 1915 at Sawyer, North Dakota the daughter of Fred and Mabel (Nephew) Fullmer. She was raised and educated at Sawyer and graduated from Sawyer High School in 1933. During her younger years, Ardis assisted with the operation of the family farm and worked at Sawyer.

Ardis was united in marriage to Alvin Lesteberg on December 20, 1937 at Velva. They made their home in the Velva area, and took over the operation of the family farmstead in the 1940's in Brown Township of McHenry County. They retired from farming in 2000 and moved into Velva. Alvin died December 7, 2006.

Ardis was a member of Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva, where she was active with the Mighty Oaks Church Circle group. She was also a member of the Homemaker's Sew-n-So Club. She had been active in the annual lutefisk fundraiser at Oak Valley for a number of years. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, doing embroidery work as well as sewing.

Her loving family includes : children: Gladys Wassing of Minneapolis, MN, Janice (Victor) Garman of Riverdale, ND, LeRoy (Mary) Lesteberg of Velva, Mary Ellen (Steven) Riley of Goodwell, OK, Keith (Shelly) Lesteberg of Fargo and Cheryl (Richard) Clark of Waynesburg, PA; grandchildren: Joel Wassing, George Wassing, Rachel (Chris) McDaniel, John and Brian Lesteberg, Stephanie Riley (Sam) Burkhard, Steven Riley, Vicki (Todd) Wolf, Teresa (Marty) Christiansen and Aaron (Amy) Garman; great grandchildren: Samantha McDaniel, Isabel and Phoebe Garman, Elaina and Eli Christiansen, Aubriana, Shailyn, Brekka and Stuart Wolf and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, including a special niece, Jeanne Kambeitz.

Ardis was preceded in death by his parents, step-father, Herman Newman, husband, brothers, Otis and LeRoy, sister, Dorothy Hage, step-brothers: Gerald, Ralph, Walter and Howard and infant grandson, David Garman, infant great-grandson, Jesse Garman, and step-sister, Evelyn Fjeld.

Funeral service : Monday, February 19, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva;
Interment : Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot;
Visitation : Sunday (today) from noon - 5:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to an organization of the donor's choice.