Ardys Olson died June 6, 2015 at the David M. Dorsett Healthcare Community in Spearfish, SD. She was 84 years old.

Ardys Olson was born August 4, 1930, in Brookings County, daughter of Erwin and Agnes Tofte. She grew up on a farm northwest of Brookings and attended Sterling Township country school. After eighth grade she attended Brookings High School. While she attended high school she stayed in Brookings with relatives during the week. Ardys graduated from Brookings High School in 1948.

Ardys attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls for two years after high school. While attending Augustana, she met the love of her life, Enoch Olson. She worked at Lemonds Café in downtown Sioux Falls. Ardys and Enoch were married June 10, 1951 at Sterling Lutheran country church near her home.

Ardys and Enoch made their home on the Olson family farm and ranch north of Platte, South Dakota. The first year of their marriage Ardys taught at country school. Ardys and Enoch operated a multiple enterprise agricultural operation including cash grain farming and cattle. While on the farm their children Joel, Debra and Randal were born. The family lived in two different small prairie ranch homes before building a new farm home in 1967. This was their home until 1994.

Ardys and Enoch attended Stavanger Lutheran Church near their farm until it closed. They were then part of the merger of two country congregations and the Platte town church into Trinity Lutheran Church in Platte, which they attended through their years in Platte. Ardys was an active member of the Rainbow Extension Club in Platte.

Beginning in 1981, Ardys and Enoch started going south for the winter. After spending one winter in Florida, they decided to make Mesa, Arizona their winter home. In the early years they were away for only a few weeks, but after Joel became a partner in the farm operation they were away for six months. Ardys truly relished their time in Mesa, spending time playing cards, picnicking and sight-seeing. She used her retirement time to refine and develop her skill as an artist. Ardys painted with oil, pastels, watercolor and charcoal creating landscapes, portraits and rosemaling. She also practiced with pottery and ceramics. Ardys was an accomplished entertainer, and was often planning the next meal before finishing the current one. She especially enjoyed time with her sister Phyllis and her family.

Not content to spend all their time at Platte in the summers, Ardys and Enoch also travelled the US and the world. They owned a motorhome and travelled both to the Gulf coast and the West coast. They took trips to Norway and to other European countries. While in Platte they enjoyed golfing and were members at the Lake Platte golf club.

After Enoch's death in 2001, Ardys purchased a condominium in Mesa and continued to spend winters there. She split time in the summer between the farm and visiting relatives. She was a two time cancer survivor, including both colon cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Ardys is survived by her son Joel (Pam) Olson of Platte, daughter Debra (Bruce) Jennings of Belle Fourche and son Randy (Muria) Olson of Humboldt, sister Phyllis Berkland of Sioux Falls, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Enoch.

Interment will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. A memorial service is planned at 1:00pm, Sunday, July 5, 2015, at the Spearfish United Methodist Church, Spearfish, SD. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to benefit Global Health Ministries, 7831 Hickory St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55432.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.