Ardis J. Witte

Ardis Jeanette Witte, 98, of Rochester, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her twin daughters on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at Shorewood Commons in Rochester, MN. Ardis was born March 9, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN to John and Agnes (Pederson) Nelson. After graduating from high school, Ardis went on to MacPhail School of Music and Minneapolis College of Business. On November 26, 1948, in Minneapolis, Ardis married Rev. Marvin Witte. Ardis and Marvin started their lives together in Chatfield, MN, where Rev. Witte was the first pastor at Chatfield Lutheran Church. They served Lutheran churches in Chatfield, Adams, Callender, IA, Detroit Lakes, and Moorhead, MN where Rev. Witte was the pastor and Ardis the organist. In 2000 they moved to Rochester to be closer to family. Ardis was an accomplished musician and taught piano and served as organist for numerous years. She always played with great expression and she loved gifting people with the beauty of music. She particularly enjoyed the music of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg and Claude Debussy. During her early adult life, Ardis worked as a bookkeeper for Land O'Lakes Creamery and DuPont Paint Division in Minneapolis. She was an active member of Zumbro Lutheran Church where she sewed quilts in Mission Sewing and was a member of Mary Circle. She enjoyed reading, sewing, baking, hardanger embroidery, Blue Bunny chocolate ice cream, and took great pride in her Norwegian heritage. Ardis was a humble but proud woman. With her love of music, her Christian faith, church and family were very important to her. She will be missed. Ardis is survived by her son, James (Sandi) Witte of Callender, IA; twin daughters, Kathryn (Scott) Duffus of Owatonna, Kristen (Bob) Giere of Rochester; grandchildren, Ben Duffus (Germany), Linnea Redinger, Kaia Liang (China), Erikka Giere, Alysson Pehoski, Rachel Ritland and Jacob Witte; great-grandchildren Ingrid and Arlo Pehoski, Charles, Walter and Eleanor Witte and daughter-in-law, Karen Witte. Ardis was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; son, John Witte and granddaughter, Andrea Witte. A celebration of Ardis's life will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 1, 2020 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Rev. Vern Christopherson will be officiating. The service will be livestreamed beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zumbro Lutheran Church or to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Safety guidelines, social distancing and masks will be required for all services. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Witte family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com