Ardis Mcfarland

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Ardis McFarland, 93

Ardis Tweedy McFarland passed away peacefully June 12, 2023, surrounded by family. She was born January 12, 1930,      in Niobrara, NE. Born to Albert and Iva Tweedy, joining her 1 yr. old sister Lorraine. Parents later purchased a farm near Hartington, NE. Sisters Doretha and Phyllis and brother Ronnie were born there. The children attended a one room schoolhouse.  Ardis graduated from Liberty High School in Hartington, later attended a Teaching College to earn a Teaching Certificate.  She taught in a rural one room school.  She married Thomas McFarland September 27, 1951. She continued teaching while he was drafted into the Marine Corps and deployed to Korea. When he returned to the states in 1953, she joined him in California until his honorable discharge 6 months later.

Returning to NE, Ardis continued teaching while her husband farmed with his brothers a few years. Their first child Michael was born during this time.  They moved to Denver, Co working in home construction and Ardis was a “stay at home” mom as Jeannie and Jeffrey were born there.  Wishing to leave the city, they moved to Kalispell, MT in 1969.

Tom continued his construction work, and Ardis substitute taught occasionally. In 1980 they returned to their farming roots and started McFarland Dairy. A career they continued together, milking 50 to 80 head of Holsteins, until their retirement until 1997.

After Tom passed in 2018, she lived alone still cooking and baking. She enjoyed reading her Bible, daily devotionals, completing the crossword and sudoku puzzles every day in the paper. There was nothing she enjoyed more than time spent with family and friends that she loved like family.

Ardis was preceded in death by her parents (Albert & Iva Tweedy), grandparents (James and Grace Wade), Father and Mother-in-law (Roy and Sylvia McFarland). Her husband of 67 yrs., two brothers-in-law and their spouses, five sisters-in-law and their spouses. Her sister Doretha Tweedy, Lorraine Woockman and husband Raymond, sister Phyllis Weslow and husband Julian.  She is survived by her brother Ron Tweedy and wife Judy. Her children, Mike (Mary), Jeannie, Jeffrey (Jackie).  Grandchildren, Mandi (John) Cole, Dylan (Allie) McFarland, Jesse (Jennifer Stebbins) McFarland. Olivia (Austin) Root. Nicole, Jesse, Ashley and Jeffrey McFarland. Great grandchildren, Greta, Thomas and Vaida Cole, Addison, William and Benjamin McFarland, Drew and Devin McFarland, Rylee Evans.  Great-great grandson due in September.

A service will be held at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 2 PM. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home caring for the family.