Ardella Lorine Sorensen, 85, formerly of Ord, Nebraska died Saturday, November 23, 2013 at the Community Memorial Health Center at Burwell, where she had resided the past year-and-a-half.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 27, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Ord. Presided by Rev. Trever Rook of Ord. Services conducted by her cousin, Pastor Ivan Schoone of Hildreth. Congregational singing "Amazing Grace" and "The Old Rugged Cross", accompanied by pianist Phyllis Clement. Burial was in the Minden Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday. Ord Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Ardella was born May 26, 1928, on the family farm near Upland, NE to Friedrich "Fred" and Agnes (Petersen) Best. She was the third of eight children. She was baptized as an infant and later confirmed into the Lutheran faith. Ardella attended country school west of Upland (Rose School, District #45 of Franklin County) and graduated from Upland High School in 1946.

Ardella was married on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948, at the Lutheran Church Parsonage at Minden, Nebraska, to A. Ivan Sorensen. The couple were married for 65 wonderful years, after having first met on a blind date.

The couple made their home in Minden until 1953, when they removed to Ord. Ardella was a stay-at-home mom while rearing their two children and was involved in their activities including assistant leader of Cub Scouts and Brownies, and an avid sports mom. Later Ardella worked in retail sales at Needham's Clothing Store and the Ord Fabric Shop, and had also sold Avon products.

Ardella was a dedicated member of the former First United Presbyterian Church at Ord, (before its recent dissolution) helping with Bible school, singing in the choir, Ladies' Circle, and organizing rummage sales for missions. She was also a member of the Home Arts Extension Club. Her hobbies included family genealogy, her beautifully tailored sewing skills, crafts, artistic painting, original poetry, singing, drama and the fine arts, as well as flower gardening, canoeing and camping. She and Ivan enjoyed many seasons of entertainment through their Omaha 'Aksarben' membership. They also traveled extensively throughout the United States on many travel agency bus tours. She was genuinely pleased to meet with relatives in person through her genealogy research and travels. Her downtown morning coffee group in Ord was a daily tradition.

Ardella is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter & their families. (living family names withheld.) She is mourned by numerous relatives and friends. Her loving countenance and graciousness shall be held dear in their memories.

Family pallbearers were her son-in-law Mike, grandsons-in-law Art and Bryce, step-grandson-in-law Travis, grandson Scott, and a nephew Don (filling the vacancy of step-great-grandson Caleb.)

Ardella was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers: Kenneth Best and Elmer "Pete" Best; and two of her sisters: Geraldine "Gerry" Davis and Janice Oziah.
{G.I. Independent, Minden Courier, Ord Quiz. Edited and expanded herein by family 2016}