Mrs. Ardis E (Larson) Swanson went to be with Jesus on Monday, December 9, 2019. She had been looking forward to that moment since she was seven-years-old when she asked Jesus into her heart. Ardis often told her family and others, with tears in her eyes, about how wonderful the moment she met Jesus would be.

Those people now have tears in their eyes.

Ardis was born on June 13, 1931, in the farmhouse her dad built near Webster, WI. She grew up on that farm, decided to be a school teacher, took care of nieces and nephews (she was the youngest of four daughters), traveled summers offering Vacation Bible School to children, and sang for weddings. She completed two years of college at Superior State, WI and taught school close to Webster. She then moved to Minneapolis, MN to complete her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. It was there that she met Arnold Swanson, whom she married in 1956. Together they raised three children, Jon, Joy, and Jill.

Ardis always supported Arnold in his ministry with Christian Service Brigade and she always taught. She was a substitute teacher while her kids were young. She began teaching preschool at Toddlers Campus (First Baptist Church in Wheaton), and then started the kindergarten program at FBC. She taught Sunday school to many age groups, directed Vacation Bible School, was a Sunday school superintendent and a deaconess.

Ardis was constantly providing hospitality to family and friends. The coffee was always on, the cookie tin was always full, her table was always ready so that she could hear and tell stories, as well as pray and offer encouragement.
After their retirement, Arnold and Ardis spent summers in Webster, WI, in a house on land she had walked as a little girl with her dad. After Arnold's death, she lived at Belmont Village and DuPage Care Center.

She was preceded in death by her sisters: Jean (Ford) Wester, Eleanor (Harold) Koerper, Anita (Eugene) Lindquist, her parents John and Hazel Larson, and her granddaughter Kathryn Anne Swanson.

She is survived by son, Jon (Nancy) Swanson of Fort Wayne with Andrew (Allie Markland) Swanson and Hope (Dan) Swanson Smith, daughters, Joy (Michael) Ritter of Winfield with Madeline, and Jill (Matt Carr) Burton of Wheaton with Natalie (Josh) Hiebert and Collin Burton. She was loved by her many nieces and nephews and you.

In a note she wrote about her memorial service, she told us, "The best memorial would be not to grieve; go on with your lives serving your Lord and Savior with ALL of your lives and all that He has given you - He deserves it. I am so thankful I could be a part of you. We shall be together again in His presence."
And that is our plan.

The interment will be held at Perida Cemetery in Webster, WI at a later, warmer, date.