Ardis (Ardie) Mae Freeman
November 29, 1931 – September 4, 2025
Ardis (Ardie) Mae Freeman took her final adventure on September 4 as she left her home on earth to enter the indescribable beauty of her prepared home in heaven. Ardie, our sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother was born on November 29, 1931 to Bohuslav (Bob) and Veronica (Veva) Rozehnal in Elyria, OH. Soon after, she would move to River Falls, WI when her father took a professorship at the University of Wisconsin. It was there in River Falls that she would spend her childhood, a town she would love and return to throughout her entire life. In high school (the Wildcats – orange and black colors like Blaine) she played volleyball, badminton, and sang in the choir. She cherished the many weekends the family would travel to Minneapolis and beyond, creating within her a love of adventure and wonder. Her love for her parents, brother Richard (Dick), and sister Roberta (Bobbe) grew deep in the early years, and remained her entire life.
After graduation in 1950, she worked at the local five and dime in the candy shop, copied music for a music teacher, worked at a jewelry shop and also sold dinnerware. She attended college for two years (majoring in biology while hating English literature) while also working briefly at a dentist’s office. However, Ardie was ready for change, so in 1952, she traveled to stay with her grandmother (Amma Solveig) in Blaine, WA after being told by her mother, Veva, that “Washington has summer all year long.” Her short visit to Blaine would end up lasting for the rest of her life.
Arriving on the train in Blaine, Ardie would soon find herself employed as a telephone operator. She was part of the “Hello Girls”, routing and eavesdropping on calls from 9 p.m to 6 a.m for about 2 years ($325 a month). As dial-up soon replaced “Hello Girls”, Ardie planned on going back to River Falls until by a chance encounter she met Doug Freeman while on a double date. She “mistakenly” got in the car with Doug rather than with her date and they fell in love quickly. They were married on her 23rd birthday, November 29, 1954 in Marietta. Instead of throwing rice at the newlyweds, her new brothers-in-law threw apples.
Ardie was a wonderful supporter of Doug in the early years as he worked multiple jobs, moved and remodeled houses from what is now I-5, and while helping to run the family farm. She loved her father- and mother in-law dearly and cherished spending time with her brothers- and sisters-in-law. Soon there would be five children in tow, Scott, Ron, Susan, Sam and David. Cooking, cleaning, shopping and taking care of rambunctious kids was not easy, but she handled it with grace, humor and love. She was the biggest cheerleader, taxi driver and supporter of her kids’ hobbies, interests and choices as they grew. She was so happy when Jule finally was able to join the family in the mid 1980s. Ardie was a dedicated mother and wife who invested in her family and endured hardships and challenges with grace and sweetness. She made our childhood and early adulthood magical.
From 2005 to 2010, Ardie became a selfless caregiver for Doug during his dementia. She had a servant’s heart and was the gold standard to the vow of “in sickness and in health.” To her reward, after Doug’s passing, she would once again experience adventure and travel to the extreme. Trips to Prague in the Czech Republic where her dad grew up, and also the Caribbean, Disneyland and Mexico. She skydived, parasailed, bungee jumped, and swam with the dolphins all after the age of 75. She would connect with her brother and sister as often as possible, attend class reunions (she planned on going to her 75th this year), and enjoyed visiting her lifelong friends. Knowing her time was short, Ardis said it would be an amazing adventure to pass from this earth to heaven.
She had a deep faith in Christ Jesus, her Lord. She was a member of the Lutheran Church and later the Northwood Alliance in Blaine. Her faith really blossomed in the mid-1980s and along with Doug, she was instrumental in the building of Northwood Alliance Church. In her last days she feared not death as she knew Jesus her Savior paid it all for her. She was a child of God.
Ardie is survived by her six children: Jule Button, Scott and Colleen Freeman, Ron and Janine Freeman, Sue and Ralph Black, Sam Freeman, Dave and Amanda Freeman. She leaves behind 20 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Rozenhal, and sister, Roberta Henderson.
Her life will be celebrated at Northwood Chapel, 580 C Street, in Blaine from 1–3 p.m. on Saturday September 20. Memorials to Stafholt Health and Rehabilitation.
