July 17, 1923 – Friday, March 2, 2013

Service Information
St. Paul’s Lutehran Church in Hanover, Mn
Saturday, March 9, 2013
2:00 P.M.

Visitation Information
AT THE CHURCH
Friday, March 8th, 2013
4-8 P.M.

Ardis L. Kottke, age 89, of Howard Lake, MN passed away on March 2, 2013 at Howard Lake Good Samaritan Home in Howard Lake. Funeral service on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hanover, MN at 2:00 PM. Visitation on Friday from 4-8 PM & one hour prior to service, all at the church. Interment St Paul’s Cemetery, Hanover, MN.

Ardis was born on July 17, 1923 in Minneapolis, MN to Fredrick & Clara (Priebe) Krone. At the age of 6, Ardis moved with her family from Minneapolis to the family farm in Hanover, MN. She attended grade school in Hanover & then to Buffalo High School. She was member of the graduating class of 1941. On June 16, 1942 Ardis L. Krone & Melvin C. Kottke were united in marriage at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church parsonage in Hanover by Pastor Herder.

Ardis & Mel engaged in dairy farming for many years near Hanover. In 1969, the family moved from Hanover to a dairy farm near Howard Lake, MN. Ardis resided on her farm until February of 2013 when she had a brief stay at the Good Samaritan Home in Howard Lake, MN.

Ardis was an avid Howard Lake Orphans Fan. Summers would find her & Mel attending the Minnesota’s State Amateur Baseball Tournament. She enjoyed being part of a bowling league for many years. Ardis enjoyed attending the Howard Lake Senior Citizen’s events & had some very special friends there. Ardis loved dancing to polkas & waltzes & also loved listening to the music as well. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially when it involved picnics, singing or nature. She loved watching the cardinals at the bird feeder & collecting agates. She enjoyed doing embroidery projects for the family & would exhibit them at the Wright County Fair. She won many ribbons on her projects & her apple pie was a blue ribbon winner. Her no bake cookies were a family favorite & were also enjoyed by many relatives. She loved learning & reading was a favorite past-time.

She had a very generous & giving heart. Her capacity to love spilled over all of the lives that she touched. Her self sacrificing & unconditional love were an example to all who knew her. She most appreciated the simple things in life. Her greatest love was for her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. She will be missed by her family & friends.

Ardis was preceded in death by the love of her life husband, Melvin, an infant son, her parents; Fredrick & Clara Krone, brothers; Vernon & Orville, sisters; Bernice Krone, Lorraine Thelen & Ardella Hagquist.

Left to cherish her memory are her eleven children; Joan Kottke, Howard Lake, MN, Beverly (Murray) Reimer, Souris, Manitoba, Canada, Meryl Kottke-Barthel, St. Michael, MN, Clair (Kenneth) Miatech, Plymouth, MN, Kathleen Kottke, Howard Lake, MN, Shirley (John) Erickson, Cokato, MN, Marlin Kottke, Howard Lake, MN, Marson Kottke, Howard Lake, MN, Lorrie (Wayne) Kozitka, Howard Lake, MN, Nancy (Lanny) Anderson, Randall, MN, Sally Kottke, Howard Lake, MN; eightee grandchildren; Chad (Amanda) Johnston, Newell (Shannon) Johnston, Matthew (Sara) Barthel, Joey Miatech, Virginia Jechorek, Nathan Miatech, Clifford Miatech, Joshua (Amber) Erickson, Jeremiah Erickson, Jenna (Dan) Gohman, Kristin (Ben) Sanderson, Brandon Kottke, Joy (Matt) Decker, Kelly (Scott) Salmela, Amy Kozitka, Bethany Kozitka, Rebecca (Travis) Hoover, Elizabeth (Aaron) Borlaug; ten great-grandchildren; Marlin & Brianna Johnston, Bauer & Eli Erickson, Austin & Brooklyn Decker, Sophie & Rowan Salmela, Sean Gohman & Wyatt Barthel, many nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.