Ardith Frances Schneider

ARDITH FRANCES SCHNEIDER December 18, 1929 – December 24, 2017    Ardith Frances Schneider, age 88, a lifelong Park Rapids, MN area resident, peacefully passed into eternity at Diamond Willow Assisted Living on Christmas eve, December 24, 2017, with her loved ones at her side.      Ardith was born to Edward and Alice (Broadbent) Horstman on December 18, 1929 on her parent’s farm in Arago Twp., of Hubbard County north of Park Rapids, MN. As a child she attended the Arago District #33 and District #21 country schools near her home. She went on to attend high school in Park Rapids from where she graduated with the Class of 1948. She then completed Normal Teacher’s Training in Park Rapids. On August 22, 1949, Ardith was united in marriage to Edwin S. Schneider at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Park Rapids. Ardith’s husband was serving in the United States Army stationed in Alaska, and during their first year of marriage, Ardith taught country school near Fergus Falls, MN. The following year, she joined her husband in Texas, where he had been transferred. Later they were sent to an army base in Huntsville, AL where their first child, Joan was born. After 12 years of continuous military service, Edwin received his honorable discharge in 1952 and moved with his young family to the Park Rapids area where they engaged in farming. In 1957, Ardith began working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids where she worked her way up to head the Laundry department. In 1969, Ardith was preceded in death by Edwin as a young woman of 39. She dedicated herself to her children and grandchildren and a career that spanned 36 years until her retirement in January of 1993, never to marry again. Ardith was talented artistically and loved to do oil paintings. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting. After she retired, Ardith made it a point to see the world. She travelled throughout the United States and to Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Alaska, Hawaii, Germany and Italy. She was a long time faithful member of the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church and also was a member of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxilliary.    She will be lovingly remembered by her four children: Joan (Stephen) Dahl of Park Rapids; Karen Schneider of Cottonwood, AZ, Edwin Schneider of Prior Lake, MN and Wanda (David) Bentler of Frazee; her four grandchildren: Diane Karsten of Hawley, MN, Christine (Jon) Gravdahl of Park Rapids, Alan Bentler of Detroit Lakes and Summer Schneider of Prior Lake, MN; five great grandchildren: Justin, Alyssa and McKenna Karsten, Amelia and Lana Gravdahl; one great-great grandson: Gage Karsten; one sister, Edithe (Raymond) Duenow of Fergus Falls, MN and one brother, Bruce (Irene) Horstman of St. Paul, MN; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.    Ardith was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Schneider on August 19, 1969 and her three sisters: Eloyse, Donna and an infant sister, LaVonne.