A livestream of the service may be accessed by going to https://vimeo.com/event/2616480
To view the flowers from Ardella’s service click here: Ardella Helstedt Flowers
Ardella Helstedt, 86, Minot, formerly of Velva, died on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at Edgewood Memory Care in Minot.
Ardella Mae (Weber) Helstedt was born January 11, 1936 in Minot to Frank Weber, Jr. and Cecelia (Hoechst) Weber of Sawyer. She was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bergen. Her family moved eight times within the Sawyer, Voltaire, Bergen and Velva areas when she was growing up. She started school at Velva, then she attended Bergen school for almost 3 years. Halfway through the school year, her family moved and she attended the Lignite No. 1 Country School. Finally, her family moved back to Velva where she attended grades 8 – 12 and she graduated from Velva High School in 1953.
After graduating, Ardella moved to Minot and found work at American State Bank. Ardella met the love of her life, Robert Helstedt, through her roommate, Audrey Helstedt (Robert’s sister). They were married August 4, 1957 at Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva. They made their home in Minot. They had two children: Sue and Barb. Ardella stayed at home raising their kids until the girls were in junior high school. Ardella then took a job in 1971 as a part-time bookkeeper at First National Bank, later Norwest Bank. She retired in April 1995.
Ardella was a longtime active member of Augustana Lutheran Church and later Christ Lutheran Church of Minot. Over the years she taught Sunday School and Bible School, was a member of the visitation committee, library committee, Ladies Aid, quilting group, prayer chain and was church treasurer. She was also active in the Eve Circle, and co-chaired the funeral committee. Ardella and Robert faithfully stirred Swedish rice pudding for Augustana’s Høstfest booth for many years. When there were no leaders, Ardella became a Girl Scout co-leader so her daughters could join Brownies and Junior Scouts.
Ardella loved her family so very much and her family thought the world of her – she was the best Mom ever! Ardella also loved antiques, camping, gardening, sewing, genealogy, crafts and attending threshing shows with Robert.
Ardella moved to Cookie’s Cottage at Edgewood Memory Care, in December of 2020 and she thrived there – participating in all sorts of new activities like Wheel of Fortune, bingo and coloring. She was well-cared for at Edgewood and she was happy there and loved the food. Our family would like to express a special thanks to the incredible staff and to LaVonne Gullickson for taking such good care of our mom and grandma.
Ardella’s loving family includes: daughters: Sue Doeling of Houston and Barb (Pete) Schmitt of Minneapolis; grandchildren: Kathleen (Craig) Elsbury of Dallas and Steven (Mary) Doeling of Houston; great grandson: Lucas Elsbury; brother and sister-in-law: Arno and Sharon Weber of Minot; in-laws: Curt and Bonnie Feist of Velva and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ardella was preceded in death by: her husband, Robert; and her parents.
Celebration of the Life of Ardella Helstedt: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church – Minot. A livestream of the service may be accessed by going to https://vimeo.com/event/2616480
Interment will be in the Spring at the Bergen Cemetery.
Visitation: Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home – Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Bergen Cemetery or Christ Lutheran Church.
