Ardyce Marie Minnig

Funeral service for Ardyce Minnig, 73, of Marshall, will be Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Wabasso. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the church and one hour prior day of service. Interment will follow at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery. Ardyce Marie (Werner) Minnig was born May 19, 1948, in Redwood Falls, to Arthur and Leona (Gilb) Werner. She grew up on a farm near Wabasso and attended school in Wabasso. Ardyce attended vocational school in Mankato, then worked at a phone company in Clements for a time. Ardyce was united in marriage to Donald Balko, and the couple moved to Amboy, IL. They had two children, John and Tanya. The family moved back to a farm near Wabasso, and after Donald’s death in 1980, Ardyce moved with her children into Wabasso. In 1986, Ardyce was united in marriage to Bill Minnig, and with his children Ryan and Jennifer, the family lived on a farm near Milroy. In addition to helping on the farm, Ardyce worked at the Wabasso Farm Bureau and Lyle Porter Accounting in Tracy. After Bill’s death in 2000, she worked at the Tracy nursing home. She moved to Maplewood in 2005, then Marshall in 2012. Most recently Ardyce was working as the property manager at Country Club Estates in Marshall. Ardyce loved her family and any excuse to be with them. Ardyce and Bill took their children camping frequently (between farmwork), making it to nearly every State Park in Minnesota during their youth. Later in life, trips to visit children and grandchildren were a highlight, and many trips were made just to spoil the grandchildren with laughs and gifts. Throughout her whole life Ardyce found much strength, joy and purpose in keeping all generations of the family connected. Whether it was reunions, birthday parties, the "nieces weekend", cousins reunion or just a weekend away at the lake with whoever could join her. She deeply cherished those times and went out of her way to make sure others would enjoy themselves as well. She brought a special light to others, and family and friends brought special times to her. Ardyce enjoyed her flowers and gardening, and just being out in nature with times around the campfire being especially happy. Ardyce was also involved with many church activities, and her helpful, hard-working nature and generosity touched many people. Ardyce died on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at the Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center. She is survived by her son Ryan (Angie) Minnig, their children Catherine and William, of Parker, CO; son John Balko (fiancée May Yang) of Minnetonka; daughter Jennifer (Jason) Tibbetts, their children Sander and Conner, of Cloquet; daughter Tanya Balko of Marshall; siblings Leeun Werner and Fernetta Brown; as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Leona Werner, husbands Donald Balko and Bill Minnig, and brothers Gilbert and Dale Werner.