Ardith D Seaver

Ardith Seaver, 91, of Fergus Falls, passed away Saturday, September 9, 2023, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Ardith Delna (Kilde) Seaver was born to John and Clara (Stigen) Kilde on August 28, 1932, in Fergus Falls, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church. Ardy grew up in Fergus Falls in a loving home where the Christian faith was taught and nurtured. She graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in 1950. It was during her time at Hillcrest when Ardy claimed Matthew 11:28 as her salvation verse which brought peace to her heart. She was forever grateful for the care, instruction, and prayers of godly teachers.

Ardy went on to become a Registered Nurse after graduating from Lutheran Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. It was while living in Minneapolis at this time and attending Ebenezer Lutheran Church, that Ardy began dating and then marrying Ray Seaver in 1955. Together, they had five children, sixteen grandchildren, and at her death thirteen great-grandchildren.
Ardy was a servant leader in her home, church, and community. She lived out her vocations with grace, intelligence, skill, humility, and humor. She enjoyed reading, singing and listening to music, observing birds, growing and arranging flowers, and the Minnesota Twins. She found great fulfillment and joy in providing a loving and welcoming home for her family, and extending warm hospitality to all who visited. Ardy enjoyed worshiping and serving in their local congregations, hosting and participating in home Bible studies, becoming a Stephen Minister, and partnering with Ray on two church planting teams, Oak Hill Church in Bloomington, MN and Word of Life in LeSueur, MN. She enjoyed deep and lasting friendships. For almost twenty years she took turns hosting a once a month gathering of women from the community who enjoyed catching up with craft or miscellaneous projects a.k.a. “Odds and Ends” over coffee, dessert, and conversation. In the midst of caring for five children, she carved out time to serve with the LeSueur Hospital Auxiliary, sing in a Community Ecumenical Choir, and serve as a Red Cross Nurse during local blood drives.

After living most of their years in LeSueur, MN, in 1997 Ray and Ardy moved to Fergus Falls, fulfilling Ardy’s wish to spend retirement years where she grew up. Their lives were enriched further with new and old friendships within their neighborhood, community, Bethel Lutheran Church, Mill Street Residence, and Pioneer Care.
Ardy is survived by her children, Jeff (Kathie) Seaver, Moorhead, MN; Cindy (David) Spidahl, Erhard, MN; Barb (Nick) Mundis, Eden Prairie, MN; Ray (Christine) Seaver, Hartland, WI; Tom (Shannon) Seaver, Eden Prairie, MN; sixteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren; a brother, John (Janet) Kilde. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Clara Kilde, as well as her siblings, Marlin, Sylvia, Dorothy, Cordelia, and Loren.

 Memorials are preferred to the Ray and Ardy Seaver Endowment at Lutheran Brethren Seminary and Inspiration Point Christian Camp and Retreat Center.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, October 26, with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at Glende- Nilsen Funeral Home in Fergus Falls and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial service is 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 27, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Fergus Falls.