Ardys Jeannette (Pederson) Rongstad

Ardys Rongstad, of Montevideo, died on Saturday, January 5, 2002 at her home at the age of 74.

Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, January 10, 2002 at 1:30 PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Thomas S. Hanson officiating.  Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation will be Wednesday afternoon and evening and with the family from 6 - 8 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Ardys Jeanette (Pederson) Rongstad was born on April 8, 1927 in Walnut Grove, MN to John and Johanna (Johannsen) Pederson.  She was baptized and confirmed at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove and graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1944.  She attended Mankato Commercial College and the Art Instruction School in Minneapolis.  On May 12, 1946 she was united in marriage to Reuben Rongstad at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.  They lived in Walnut Grove, Morgan and  Nassau, MN  before moving to Montevideo in 1955.  She owned and operated A R Art Studio for fifteen years and then worked for MTI for several years.  She was an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and the Bethel Bible Series.  A talented artist, she contributed many original works of art to Our Savior's.   Her  interests include painting, arts and crafts, gardening, sewing and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She will be missed dearly.

She is survived by four children: Kristine Oleson and her husband Sam of Fredricksburg, VA, John Rongstad and partner Cecilia of Beulah, WY, Peter Rongstad and partner Kelly of Montevideo, MN, Paul Rongstad and his wife Amy of Montevideo, MN; seven grandchildren: Jeremy Rongstad and his wife Carrie, Jason Rongstad, Joseph Rongstad, Alison Rongstad, Emily Rongstad, Danielle (Oleson) Hess and her husband Michael, and Joshua Oleson; one great-grandchild, Mason Mark Rongstad; one brother, Arvin Pederson of Cumberland, WI; one sister, Doris Pederson of Aurora, CO; as well as by nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Reuben in 1986; two sons: Mark and Thomas; and two sisters: Sylvia Falker and Esther Severson.