Ardis Finstuen

Ardis J. Finstuen, 91, of Zumbrota, MN, died Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at Fairview Medical Center in Red Wing, MN. A funeral service will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, February 11, 2006 at Mahn Family Funeral Home-Larson Chapel, Zumbrota with Pastor Duane Hoven officiating. Interment will be in the Zumbrota Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Ardis was born May 29, 1914. She was the youngest of three children born to Albert and Clara (Swenson) Finstuen. Ardis was born at home on the family farm in Roscoe Center. She was baptized and confirmed at Stordahl Lutheran Church. Ardis graduated from Zumbrota High School. She then followed her sister Myrtle; graduating from St. Olaf College and becoming a mathematics teacher. Ardis taught in several Minnesota schools until she began teaching at Little Falls High School in Little Falls, MN where she taught for 31 years, retiring from teaching in 1974. Ardis spent her retirement traveling the globe with her sister, Myrtle and cousin and missionary, Erma Swenson. She visited Africa, Norway, Canada and even made a trip around the world. Ardis then moved to Rochester and spent her last years in Zumbrota. ?Ardy,? as she was known to her family, was never married. She was very close to her many nieces, nephews and their families. Ardy was a true teacher who loved children. She loved to read to her great-nieces and nephews while they sat on her lap. Everyone loved a good game of hide the thimble, with Ardy calling out, ?Hotter, no colder.? She also enjoyed taking her family out to eat. Her favorite restaurants were Edgewood and Michael?s. Ardis was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Clara (Swenson) Finstuen; her brother, Curtis and her sister, Myrtle Reishus. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Ross (Bev) Reishus, Donna Carlson, Helen (David) Lother, Dalton (Karen) Finstuen, Ruth Wordsworth and Virginia (Nicky) Chasinghawk and Rudy Chasinghawk. Ardis is also survived by 20 great-nieces and nephews. She will remembered by all the students whom she taught Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry.