Ardell Ray Stafne-Nelson passed away on January 6, 2024 in Billings, MT.  Graveside Services for Ardell will be on May 25, 2024 at 10:00 am at the Wolf Butte Lutheran Church Cemetery nine miles north of Bucyrus, ND, next to her son Craig.

She was born September 6, 1943, at Springer Hospital in Hettinger, the daughter of Arne and Norma Lorraine Nelson-Stafne. She was baptized and confirmed at the Wolf Butte Lutheran Church.

She was married to Chester R. Nelson September 17, 1964, at the Bucyrus Lutheran Church. To this union were born five children, Audrey S. Nelson-Cihak, Ryan C. Nelson, Craig G. Nelson, Loralyn C. Joyce and Kirsten R. Matthews.

Over the years she served as 4-H leader for Fellowship 4-H Club, Sunday School teacher at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Reeder and youth supervisor at the Assembly of God Wednesday Night Youth Group, Williston, ND.

She was a member of the Moose Lodge 252 and Assembly of God Church of Williston. Her career choices over the years were varied. She was pro-active in all aspects of the farming operation until Friday, June 13, 2003, when the marriage was dissolved. She worked as a legal secretary for James A. Clement, attorney at law, Hettinger and assistant librarian under Carol Spooner at the Reeder Public School, Reeder, ND.

The Adams County Record lent many experiences from reporter, bookkeeping, secretarial, advertising and newspaper layout. She worked at Schwan's and ABLE Inc. in Hettinger after being laid off at the Adams County Record after 11 ½ years. The limited job market resulted in her returning to college at Dickinson State University as an older than average student in January 1992. There she received an Associate Secretarial Degree with Medical, Marketing and Management Concentrations. A search for her identity and a desire to see the country led her to nearly a year of driving an 18-wheeler. She was in the process of getting her BS degree in 2002 when a brain tumor ended her education.

Two years as an insurance agent for Jay Fuglie and Combined Insurance Company of America was the predecessor to 16 ½ years as a ward clerk at Bethel Lutheran Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Williston. She was employed part time for Able, Inc, Hettinger and Opportunity Foundation Inc, Williston for a total of 16 years.

Because her son Craig was diagnosed severe, self-abusive Autistic she was involved in various Autism groups. She appeared before the North Dakota 66th Legislative Assembly House of Representatives Human Resources Committee sharing Craig's story. This led to the inclusion of Autism Spectrum Disorder as a Debilitating Medical Condition in North Dakota Medical Marijuana Law. As of 2022, fourteen Autistic boys' and girls' lives have changed as a result.

Her hobbies included writing and was published in the Mysterious Ways magazine as well as other venues; her oil paintings and watercolor paintings adorned her walls. She enoyed reading books and letting her Kindle read to her. She loved gardening and her flower gardens.

She is survived by her son Ryan C. Nelson, Reeder; Audrey (Dana) Cihak, Valley City, ND; Kirsten (Rich) Matthews, Marquette, MI; son-in-law Brenden Joyce, Bismarck; brother, Kevan (Gertrude) Stafne, Hettinger; sister, Ardyth Jeszenka, Great Falls, MT.

She is also survived by 10 biological and adopted grandchildren:  Trevor Fishell, Dayton Fishell, Mariah Jahner, McKinsey R. Jahner, Sarah Jahner, Aurora G. Nelson, Sean Joyce, Erin Joyce Thomas Matthews and Morgan Matthews, an adopted great grandson Ryland Fishell and numerous nieces and nephews and her sister-in-law Bertha Nelsen.

She is also survived by special young friends who are extended family, Paige Bonomo, Hettinger; Pam and Doyle Fishell, Redstone, MT; Michael Ziesemer and Alicia Roth, Drake, Zander and Jazzy of Williston.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, several aunts and uncles, cousins and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-laws, nephews and a great niece, a daughter and a son.