Ardeth Darsow

Ardeth Darsow, 81, of Billings, MT, was called home by her heavenly Father on September 26th, 2014. Ardeth Louise Sellon was born on September 18th, 1933 in Elk River, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm and got a real kick out of recounting mostly-true stories of barn dances, hookie-bobbing, and vegetable canning. She graduated from Elk River High School, where she participated as a cheerleader and basketball referee. Although she never attended college, she could have taught courses in advanced homemaking with her outstanding skills in gardening, culinary arts, and sewing. Once, her young grandson said she should cook for the President. She took pride and great joy in her cooking and watching people as they devoured her first-class holiday feasts, especially her famous pumpkin torte. Her home was always overflowing with beautiful flowers, vegetables, and plants of all kind. She especially enjoyed her Christmas cactus, a gift from her son-in-law, which she had kept growing for over 25 years, nurturing it from a tiny two-inch plant to one that needed several pots to contain it. Her prize-winning crocheted afghans were a gift to many throughout the years. She kept an immaculate house, and attempted the epic task of teaching her granddaughter to make a bed with hospital corners. Luckily, Ardeth was a person who never loved people for what they could do, but rather simply because of who they were. She was a diligent and organized secretary at Prudential; she ended her career there only having regrettably missed one day of work in twenty years, on account of being bitten by a horse. She lived a year in France during her adult years, and it was one of the best times of her life. Some of the activities which brought her delight and friendships were bowling league, bunco group, showing afghans at the Montana Fair, couponing, baking treats with her grandchildren, cribbage matches, coffee dates, family dinners and events, and watching her beloved Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Vikings. However, Ardeth's best qualities weren't the things that she did; her best qualities were her glowing personality traits of eternal optimism, internal joy, selflessness, and the ability to accept people for exactly who they were. Each time she was diagnosed with cancer, she was the most optimistic person in the room, forever fighting and believing she could, and would, beat anything. She handled these battles with incredible bravery and courage. She faced a great deal of tragedy and hardship in her life, yet those who met her in daily life would have never guessed. She was a ray of sunshine and far more concerned with others' wellbeing and happiness than her own. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, and she did her best to make them special. When asked during her last days on Earth what advice she would gift people with, she stated, "Be happy. Just be happy." She was proof that willpower, attitude, and joy are choices independent of circumstances, and those who knew her are better people for having learned this from her. She embodied the fruits of the Spirit, as declared in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." She is survived by her son, Greg Darsow; her daughter, Lynn Silbernagel (Bill); her grandchildren Breeann Adam (Troy) and Jake Silbernagel; her sisters Barb (Ronnie) and Joanne. She is also survived by many faithful friends and extended family members. A celebration of a life well lived will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4th at Apostles Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Trinity Lutheran School.

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