Ardis Charlene Jensen
Ardis Charlene Jensen was born on March 21, 1932, to Charles and Nellie (Cambridge) Deiter on a farm in the Blue Hill community near Hunter, KS. She went home to be with The Lord on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at The Holiday Resort & Rehab Center, Salina KS, at the age of 91.
Ardis attended the OK grade school and Hunter High School, graduating in the class of 1950. She was a cheerleader, homecoming queen, and played on the basketball team. She was a member of the Grace Chapel United Methodist Church. On June 25, 1950, Ardis married Keith “Shorty” Jensen, who had just returned from his service in the Navy. They made their home in Lincoln County on Keith’s family farm. Three children, Marilyn, Ronald, and Arlisa were born into this union. Keith and Ardis were married Ardis Charlene Jensen 52 years and had just moved to Salina from the family farm when Keith passed away.
Ardis had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening and canning, especially pickles of any kind. She was a hard worker both at home and in the community; she was employed as a school cook and clothing sales associate at a few different stores in Lincoln, Beloit, and Salina.
She was a member of the Bethany Baptist Church and loved to sing-she was always in a choir including the Ray Avenue Baptist Church in Salina where she became an active member and a faithful attendee. Ardis had a strong Christian faith and it carried her through some sad times in her life. She appreciated gospel music and was a huge Elvis fan, having quite a collection of Elvis memorabilia. She loved to dance and that is how she met Larry Beil. They were married in 2014 and continued to enjoy dancing at the Jolly Mixers; Larry passed away on January 5, 2020.
Ardis loved to dress up and had a different broach for every outfit –she always looked her best. Her favorite color was red and it matched her vibrant personality. She had many close friends; she adored them all and enjoyed talking on the phone and writing letters. Actually, she never met a stranger, which at times, embarrassed her family. Ardis had an ornery streak and loved to tell and hear jokes. She always brought life into any room she entered.
Ardis loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was kind-hearted to the very end, thanking her caregivers and telling us how much she loved us. Her family and friends are very grateful for their time with her. Ardis will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Ardis was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Keith Jensen, Claude Paxton, and Larry Beil, daughter Arlisa Robertson, sisters Ava Darcene Sulsar and Charlotte Overman, brother Quenten Deiter, and son-in-law, John Schneider. Survivors include daughter, Marilyn Schneider, son Ronald (Shelly) Jensen, grandchildren, Brandon (Serrina) Schneider, Marissa (Justin) Long, Heather (Tom) Reust, Aaron Jensen & great grandchildren Nixon Long, and Cora Jo and Genevieve Reust, sister, Allene Wiles and a host of nephews, nieces, and friends.
There will be no visitation. The funeral will be on August 17th at 10:45 a.m. at Hall Chapel, Lincoln, KS with burial to follow in Lincoln cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ray Avenue Baptist Church, 2801 Ray Avenue, or Hospice of Salina, 730 Holly Lane, both located in Salina, KS, 67401.