Ardith Jane (Bensley) Larsen 1921-2011

BENSLEY, LARSEN, SPOONER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/31/2013 at 12:37:46

Sioux City Journal
25 December 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Ardith Jane (Bensley) Larsen, 90, of Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Sioux City, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and sister, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls.

Private family graveside services will be held in Graceland Park Cemetery, with the Rev. Martha Anderson of Trimble Methodist Church presiding. Visitation will be 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 3 to 5 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Condolences may be sent to Mary Erkonen, 2213 S. Wellington Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57106 or online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Ardith was born Dec. 3, 1921, at Cherokee, Iowa, to Otto "Cliff" and Florence (Spooner) Bensley, on her father's 25th birthday. Her family moved to Sioux City, and she graduated from Central High School. On Christmas Day, 1942, she married John H. Larsen at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. They lived in Bakersfield, Calif. during World War II. She was employed at Shull Law Firm for 26 years.

Our precious "Ama" loved her Lord, her family, the Our Savior's Lutheran congregation, Trimble Methodist Church in which she was raised, neighbors, friends, cardinals and birds and animals. She always reached out to others and poured out her love to them. Ama was a devoted mother who led Brownies and Cub Scouts and worked tirelessly in the Lowell School PTA and the experimental polio vaccine trials. She was known for the "spelling bees' she conducted with Jack and Mary during their lunch hour. Ama became a Hospice volunteer after John's death.

A former member of Deborah Circle and Business and Professional Women, she was an Honorary Life Member of Eastern Star and NARFE, Retired Federal Employees. Ama doted on her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they adored her. An amazing joy in her life was being the grandmother of boy-girl twins and great-grandmother of two sets of boy-girl twins. Blessed be her memory.

Grateful for sharing her life are son, John "Jack" and his wife, Cathy (Bland) Larsen and grandsons, Brad and Jeff of Dixon, Ill.; great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Matthew and Kaittlin (Mike) and their newborn son, great-great-grandson, Jaxon; daughter, Mary Erkonen of Sioux Falls, S.D., grandchildren, Amy (Patrick) Landelle, Scott (Kim) Erkonen, Sean (Danielle) Erkonen and Cara (Dewey) Tullar; great-grandchildren, Marie and Catherine Landelle, Andrew, Abigail, Matthew and Megan Erkonen and Emily and Taylor Tullar.

Cherishing her memory are her brother, Donald Bensley and wife Irene of Sioux City, and sister, Janet Wyckoff and husband Richard of El Segundo, Calif. Survivors include many dear nieces, nephews, friends and one sister-in-law, Myrtis Larsen Patterson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; a sister, Gladyce Jean in childhood; a son-in-law, Robert Erkonen; and her treasured Welsh Corgi, "Holly."

Her family is very grateful for the loving care by her Good Samaritan Village family, Asera Care Hospice and Dr. Leonard Gutnik and his staff.