Ardis Register Obituary

Register Ardis Register, 86, died Nov. 30, 2003 with her family present at the Jones-Harrison Residence in Mpls. Born April 21, 1917 in Alden, MN to immigrants Francis & Alma Petersen, she grew up in the fold of the Danish community. She graduated from Alden H.S. May 31, 1934 and was married June 16 to Gordon Register. They made Albert Lea their home from 1937 until 1996, when they moved to Mpls to be near their children. Ardis was familiar to shoppers in several retail stores where she worked. She loved using her fine sense of color and texture to help customers match fabric and patterns. An exacting seamstress, she sewed nearly everything her children wore. Ardy lived a quiet life with home and family at center. She found beauty in ordinary things and delighted in children. Kind and gentle and fair, she cheered her family's accomplishments, but always stood outside the picture. Even after Alzheimer's silenced her lovely soprano voice, music made her smile. Preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, JoAnn Squires; an infant sister; sister, Edythe Blood; and brother, Clifford Petersen. She is sorely missed by her devoted husband of 69 years, Gordon Register of Jones-Harrison Residence; two daughters, Nancy Register Wangen (Roger) and Cheri Register; son-in-law, Rodger Squires; seven grandchildren, Jeff (Cheryl) Squires, Jay (Toni) Squires, Lisa (Mike) Lee, Chris (Tom) Plunkett Wangen, Kerry Wangen, Grace De Jong, Seoul, Korea, and Maria De Jong; and 10 great- grandchildren. She leaves brothers Leslie Petersen and Kenneth (Donna) Petersen; sisters-in-law, Carol Petersen, Vivian Cadwell, Mary Jean Pagenkopf; and many nieces and nephews. The family thanks those who cared lovingly for Ardy at JHR, AlterCare, Mt. Olivet, and Walker. We rejoice that her spirit is free from its long captivity in her frail body. MEMORIAL SERVICE Sunday, December 7th, 2 PM, Jones-Harrison Chapel, 3700 Cedar Lake Ave (south shore of Cedar Lake), Mpls. Private interment at Graceland Cemetery, Albert Lea. Memorials preferred to UNICEF or Alzheimer's Association. Cremation Society of MN Edina 952-924-4100