Ardis L. Grove

Ardis "Ardie" Lucille was born the sixth of eight children to Otto and Anna (Walden) Tinjum on August 22, 1933 in Ulen, Minnesota.A bright and cheerful child, she grew up on a farm in the hills of Frazee, Minnesota and loved to cook, sew, garden, swim and read. Ardis loved school and was diligent and thorough in her work.At age 16, she graduated salutatorian from Frazee High School.She earned her teaching certificate from the Moorhead State Teachers College, later followed by her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Moorhead State College.While in Moorhead, Ardis met her best friend and the love of her life, Lyle Grove.They married in 1953.After raising their six children on their farm in the Red River Valley, Ardis returned to teaching kindergarten at Climax Public School in Climax, MN. The Groves' adventurous spirit brought them to Soldotna, Alaska in 1977. They were involved in many community and church activities, with their focus on the love of family.Ardis taught first grade at Nikiski Elementary School, then kindergarten and first grade at Redoubt Elementary School in Soldotna.As she worked, she also studied in Anchorage and earned her Masters Degree in Education from Alaska Pacific University. A dedicated and beloved teacher, Ardis retired from the Kenai Peninsula School District in 1994 after 30 years in the profession.That same year, the couple moved back to Minnesota.They delighted in pulling their camper and wintering in Arizona until Lyles death in 2009. Ardis was strong and patient, humble and kind.She was tender hearted and giving.She loved God and family and was quick to count her blessings even in times of adversity.She was known for singing as she worked and was thoughtful and meticulous in all that she did.She had deep insight and genuine empathy for others.Ardis lived by example, her actions prompted by a joyful and grateful heart. She delighted in being a wife, mother and teacher. Ardis was preceded in death by the man who called her sweetheart,her husband of 55 years, Lyle T. Grove;her parents Otto & Anna Tinjum;brothers Milton Tex Tinjum,Don Tinjum, Loren Tinjum and Wayne Tinjum; sister Elizabeth Betty (Joseph) Baana; nephew Mike Pederson and precious grandson, Ryan W. Hakkinen. She is survived by her brother Ray (Dee) Tinjum of Anchorage, AK; sister Norma (Earl) Pederson of Moorhead, MN; sisters-in-law Yvonne(Grove) Hanson of Crookston, MN and Janice (Wayne) Tinjum of Frazee, MN;sons David Grove of Soldotna, AK;Daniel Grove of Kenai, AK;Dale (Gina) Grove of Rochester, MN and Darren (Lori Wightman) Grove of Ada, OK; daughters Anita (Dan) Hakkinen of Soldotna, AK andAlana (Kurt) Haider of Anchorage, AK.She also leaves adoring grandchildren Andrea Andi Hakkinen; Lauren (Grove) Plagenz, Rebecca and Joshua Grove; and Robb, Paige and Daniel Haider; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including the couple's dear friends, Maxine and Orland Thoreson, who introduced them back in the day.The two couples remained close, solid and true all of their lives. Funeral services will be held at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN at 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2016.The family will receive guests beginning at 3:00 p.m.A second service, interment and reception will be held at Sand Hill Lutheran Church, the Groves' original home church in the countryside near the family farm in rural Climax, MN in May. In honor of Ardis, please Do unto others, and remember that reading to your child is one of the best gifts you can give.