Ardelle Peterson

Ardelle peacefully passed away on May 10, 2024, in her apartment home at Edgewood Assisted Living in Hermantown MN. She was born on June 27,1924 to Louis and Agnes Rustad at St Luke’s Hospital in Duluth MN. During High School she held summer jobs at Glass Block in downtown Duluth, and the Sweet Shop in Two Harbors traveling there by bus each day. Ardelle met the love of her life, Kermit Peterson, while in High School. She graduated from Denfeld in 1942 as the US became fully engaged in WWII. Doing her part in the war, Ardelle traveled to Washington DC with her cousins Arlene and Maxine to work for the FBI. Kermit followed her, proposed, and they were married there on October 23,1942. They then moved to San Antonio TX where Kermit reported for duty as a mechanic in the Army Air Corps. They lived there until the war ended. 

Returning to Duluth in 1945, they lived in an apartment upstairs of Kermit’s parents. There they began their family having 3 boys, Gregory 1947, Gary 1948, and Geoffrey 1950. In 1952 they moved to Hibbing for Kermit’s job where their daughter Vicki was born in 1953. Ardelle was a Mother and Homemaker during those early years, and later as the children grew up, she worked for JCPenney, Team Electronics, and Sears. She was an active member of Wesley United Methodist church including 30 years volunteering for the Church’s weekly pasty fundraiser. She was a member of the Hibbing Senior Center and especially enjoyed weekly volunteering at the Hull Rust Mine View where she informed tourists that the Hull Rust is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world and overlooks more than 125 years of iron ore mining on the Iron Range. Ardelle was an avid bowler in the Lady’s Afternoon Bowling League. She also enjoyed her ceramics classes. She loved square dancing with Kermit and friends making all her dresses and Kermit’s ties. She also spent many happy hours in her flower and vegetable gardens. In January 1984, her beloved Kermit passed away at age 62. Ardelle continued to live in Hibbing for 28 more years moving back to Duluth, her hometown, in 2012 at age 88 to be closer to her family. 

Ardelle was preceded in death by her parents, husband Kermit, son Geoffrey, Granddaughter Shana, brothers Lester and David, and sister Adeline. 

Ardelle is survived by her three children, eleven grandchildren, and twenty great grandchildren. Son Gregory (Kathy) Peterson of Centerville MN, Grandson Trent (Janine) Peterson and their children Ty, Christian, Angelia, and Giles of Stillwater MN, Grandson Travis (Stephanie) Peterson and their children Summer and Samantha of North Oaks MN, Kathy’s children James (Jenny) Scott and their children Jack, Joe & Anna of Littleton CO, Jeremy Scott of Shoreview MN, Jessica (David) Reelfs and their children Berkley, Beckett, and Bija of Shoreview MN. Son Gary (Connie Samsa) Peterson Duluth MN. Grandson Eric Peterson Duluth MN. Granddaughter Sara (Patrick) Hoheisel Minneapolis MN. Daughter Vicki Kindseth Chickaloon AK, and her children, son James Kindseth and his daughter Frejya Chickaloon AK, daughter Maren (Mathew) Kramp Meadow Lakes AK and their children Madison, and twins Dylan & Ashelyn, son Kyle (Alice) Kindseth Wasilla AK and their children Isabel, Olivia, Ava, and Rory, Vicki’s son Dane Kindseth Chickaloon AK. Ardelle is also survived by her beloved brother Vernon of Minneapolis and his children, Addy (Mike) Tardy of Duluth and their children Weston (Emily) Anchorage AK, Robin (Jason) and their daughter Louisa Chanhassen, MN and son Max Ketchum, ID. Cheryl Kaplan of Bloomington MN, her daughter Jennifer (Ryan) Minneapolis MN and their daughter Juniper, Cheryl’s son Mitchell Lakewood CO, and Vernon’s son Nicholas (Travis) Rustad of Minneapolis MN. Also surviving Ardelle is her Sister-in-law Judy (Lyle) Peterson Cold Spring MN and her children. David (Andrea) Peterson Seattle WA, children Anja and Jacob, and daughter Kristin, grandchildren Bennett and Lea. Cheryl (John) Wisneski Mt Angel OR and their children Morgan Wisneski and Benjamin Wisneski. Nancy (Mike) Lang Cold Spring MN and their daughter Abby. Other surviving family members include her Nephew Kevin Rustad of Duluth. Her deceased niece’s (Joyce Rustad) family, Larry Elwell, and their two sons Jim Elwell of Duluth and son Dylan, and Martin (Nikki) Elwell and their sons Jacob, Isaac, and Lucas Litchfield MN. Her cousin Arlene’s daughters Robin Mainella (Gene) of Duluth and Heather Mainella (Joe) of St. Louis Park MN. Kermit’s cousin Wray (Kirsten) Larson Mukilteo WA. 

The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to everyone at Edgewood Assisted Living and Caring Edge Hospice who have touched Ardelle’s life in so many ways. They honored her like family with love and respect, and we sincerely thank them.  A celebration funeral service May 16, 2024, at Wesley United Methodist Church Hibbing will be followed by a private graveside service at Maple Hill Cemetery Hibbing MN next to her beloved Kermit.