Ardelle Quanbeck, 89
Ardelle Elaine (Skovholt) Quanbeck, 89, passed away peacefully December 31, 2021 at the Cokato Manor. Ardelle was born in Breckenridge, Minnesota to Nels and Celina Skovholt on December 1, 1932 and grew up on the family farm near Mooreton, North Dakota. Ardelle attended elementary school in Mooreton, North Dakota and attended Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in Fergus Falls, Minnesota through high school. Ardelle graduated from Augsburg College with a teaching degree with a specialty in business.
She met the love of her life, Norman Quanbeck, at a Sadie Hawkins dance while at Augsburg and she was the answer to his prayers. They wed on August 7, 1955 and were married for over 66 years. After a stint living in an airstream trailer at Fort Bragg in North Carolina they returned to Minneapolis, Minnesota. She worked in a business office while Norm finished his degree at Augsburg. In 1959 they moved to Cokato, Minnesota where Norm taught math and science. Ardelle raised 3 children, worked part-time, and was involved in church and community activities.
The world changed tremendously during Ardelle’s lifetime, from no electricity and farming with horses to the wonders of space travel and the internet. She loved her family, and enjoyed gardening, book club, quilting, photography club and road trips. Preceded in death by parents Nels and Celina Skovholt, her daughter Joan, and sisters Dorothy and Althea.
Ardelle is survived by her husband Norman, sister Verna Barrett, brother Neal Skovholt, sons Keith (Jane) Quanbeck and Ron (Alyssa Dybvig) Quanbeck, grandchildren Anna, Benjamin, Daniel, Erica, and Hailey, 4 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place Monday, January 10, 2022 at 11 a.m., with visitation for 1 hour before the service, at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato MN. The service will be live streamed from the church website at: www.elchome.net. In lieu of flowers donations are preferred to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com