Ardis Marie Markle (Tryhus) passed away peacefully on November 26, 2023 after suffering with dementia. She was born June 15, 1937 to Oscar and Anna (Pederson) Tryhus. Her father passed away when she was a baby, and the family moved around a lot during her early years. She grew up in Columbus, Larson, Ruthville, Surrey, and Minot and attended many different schools. She graduated with her GED in 1955 and joined the US Army. She attended basic training at Ft. McClellan and was stationed at Ft. Devens, MA for two years as a typist. She returned to North Dakota and attended Minot State University. After receiving her standard teaching degree, she taught in a one room school in Ray, ND. She also worked for a time as “Little Red” for iKeating’s Big Red furniture warehouse and was featured in all of their ads.
She met Robert Markle at a New Year’s Eve dance at the Moose Lodge and they went out for nine days before he left for his next tour in the US Navy. They were married that March and moved to San Diego where Robert was stationed. During that time they started a family and had five children. After Robert’s retirement, the family moved back to North Dakota and Robert and Ardis once again attended Minot State University. Ardis had a long career at Tollefson’s Furniture, where she worked for 31 years.
Ardis probably served more coffee to friends and family than most restaurants. Her door was always open and friends knew they could stop by at any time and be welcome. She never met a stranger. You didn’t have to be related to feel like you were part of her family. Helping those in need was never a question.
Ardis enjoyed many things throughout her lifetime, but her favorite pastime was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren have wonderful memories of spending summer days at the zoo or in the backyard sprinkler making mud pies and winter days on the sledding hill.
Ardis instilled a love of music in each of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Gifts of musical instruments that made noisy family gatherings even noisier always made her smile. She could often be found listening to records on the old stereo she and Bob purchased when they were first married. Ardis’ grandchildren and great grandchildren carry on her musical tradition. There was nothing she loved more than to go to concerts or plays to watch them perform.
Dementia took a lot from Ardis in her last years, but it never took her sense of humor or her snarky wit. Up until her last day, Ardis still had her sense of humor and her ability to smile, laugh, and say “I love you.”
A special thank you to the staff of Maple View Memory Care and the Benedictine Living Center in Garrison for their loving care of Mom during her final year. There is a special place in heaven for the nurses and CNAs who care for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Ardis was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Association, Boy Scouts, Sons of Norway, and the Minot Moose Auxiliary. She was also an avid supporter of the arts in Minot.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Robert; her children Stefanie Olson, Minot, ND; Rebecca Anhorn, Minot, ND; Scott Markle (Sara), Bismarck, ND; Leland Markle (Jami), Eden Prairie, MN; and Sarah Hicks (Jason), Minot, ND. She is also survived by her grandchildren Nicolette Prouty, James Prouty (Crystal Willey), Myles Barcomb (Tonia Vitko), Sydney Hoffner, Sharon Houle (Scott), Sam Markle (Erica), Jack Markle, Sawyer Urbatsch, Eric Warner, Saden Warner, Evan Markle, Kenna Markle, Megan Markle, Hannah Landry (Joseph), Isaac Hicks, and Kate Hicks. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Cole Hanson, Jagger Hanson, Mischa VandenBerghe, Madison Strand, Rylie Strand, Olivia Whitefeather, Annabelle Barcomb, Elijah Barcomb, Kaleb Houle, Kristian Houle, and Philip Landry.
Ardis is also survived by her sisters Darlene Peters, Sandra Speerstra, and Linda Krupa, and brother Herman (Bud) Tryhus and numerous nieces and nephews who she loved to gather with.
Ardis was preceded in death by her parents Anna Early and Oscar Tryhus, siblings, Elinor Allard, Clara Hunter, and Clarence Tryhus, mother and father in law, Evelyn and Sidney Markle, and sons-in-law Bill Olson and Richard Anhorn.
Funeral Service: Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in Zion Lutheran Church, Minot.
To view a livestream of the service access https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQKEBaUVM7H9CNu-98eMfZw
Burial: Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Minot
Visitation: Wednesday from 5 – 7 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Association in care of Sarah Hicks, or to the local Alzheimer’s Association.
