Ardis "Ardy" Irene (Lillquist) Norenberg

Ardis “Ardy” Norenberg was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She left this world suddenly on November 12, 2024, at age 93 in her home.

She was born to Arthur and O. Irene Lillquist on June 17, 1931, in Guthrie, Minnesota, in their home above the grocery store that her father owned. She attended Guthrie Elementary School and continued to Bemidji High School where she graduated in 1949. Ardis followed her dream of becoming a nurse.  She graduated in 1953 as a Registered Nurse from St. Luke’s School of Nursing, Duluth, Minnesota.

It was during this time she met her future husband, Donald (Don) Norenberg.  They married in 1954 and began their life together in Great Falls, Montana, where Donald was serving in the U.S. Air Force. They also lived in Cascade and Libby, Montana prior to moving back to Cass Lake, Minnesota. In 1961, they purchased a farm in the Farris area of Hubbard County where together, they raised five children. They continued living on the farm until 1995 when they sold and built their new home in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Ardis enjoyed her years of working as a nurse at the Cass Lake Indian Health Services where she made lifelong friends. She also worked at the U.S. Job Corps for a brief period before returning to the Cass Lake Indian Health Services and retired in 1988.

Ardis was known for her kind and caring service to others. She never started Christmas Eve festivities for her family until she assured homebound relatives and friends received a gift of homemade Christmas cookies and beef from their farm. Her children waited in anticipation for Christmas Eve to begin. Music could be found playing in Ardis’ home much of the time as this was one of her greatest pleasures. She was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Ardis was a lifelong reader and often stated she “traveled the world” through her readings. She enjoyed traveling to visit children and grandchildren many times after retirement. One of her greatest loves was holding “her babies.”   

Ardis led Bible Study, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, was the Secretary of Woman’s Church Group in different churches where she and Don belonged. She was a member of the Cass Lake Legion Auxiliary and the Bemidji Eagles Auxiliary. She volunteered for years with Sanford Hospice, Adult Day Services, and Neilson Place Family Council, enjoying every moment of her time spent helping where help was needed the most. One quote her family will remember is “many hands make for light work!” 

Ardis is survived by her children:  Linda (Mark) Barkley, Laporte, MN; Charles Norenberg, Bemidji, MN; Rebecca Norenberg, Newport, OR; and Joel (Pam) Norenberg, Bemidji, MN; and daughter-in-law, Cindy Jo Norenberg, Granite, OR; along with the following grandchildren:  Jacob, Katie, Jessica, Meghan, Vivian, Heidi, Paul, Drew, Joseph, Cassi, and Andrew; 16 great grandchildren, and brother David (Linnea) Lillquist, Fayetteville, AR, sisters-in-law Mary Lillquist, Ruth Johnson and Jean Lillquist, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by husband Don, son Mark, brothers Art (Bud), Gordon, Harlan, and Darrell Lillquist.

Services will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church, Bemidji, MN on December 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to service.

Family requests donations be made to Bemidji Sanford Hospice or Calvary Lutheran Church, Bemidji.

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, is to have succeeded.”

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

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