Ardyce (Buness) Enget, 89, went home to Heaven on Thursday, May 24, 2018. A life-long resident of Powers Lake, Ardy loved fully, lived happily and left a lasting imprint in the hearts of those who knew her. Named the North Dakota Mother of the Year in 1997, Ardy not only mothered her own family members but ministered to many others as well. Family, friends and mere acquaintances benefited from her letters of encouragement and personal visits.
Ardy was born Oct. 16, 1928, to Dave and Mildred Buness. She was among six children raised on a farm east of Powers Lake. Ardy’s lifelong love for music and teaching began early. The family enjoyed singing together and all six siblings taught school at some point.
After attending Bethel College in St. Paul, MN, and Minot State College, Ardy taught in Ross until her marriage to Avin Enget June 23, 1950. They were married at Bethel Baptist Church in Powers Lake where both the Buness and Enget families were members. Avin and Ardy farmed southwest of Powers Lake and raised three children. Ardy taught Sunday School and children’s programs at Bethel Baptist, provided leadership on various church boards, and for more than 30 years performed with the Bethel Lighthouse Trio. She actively served in her children’s school and various community organizations. Avin and she owned horses and were members of the Saddle Club. Later in life, they took up golf together at the local course. With their grandchildren, they enjoyed sharing farm life, fishing at Enget Lake and golf cart rides.
Avin died in April 1998. In 2005, Ardy moved off the farm and purchased a house in Powers Lake across the street from the church. She began traveling, including a trip to her roots in Norway and Sweden and several vacations out of state to visit her son and family and adult grandchildren and families. She continued golfing, playing card games with friends, serving as visitation minister at the church and hosting the Seekers’ Women’s Bible Study in her home. She loved to bake breads and was in the habit of bringing one of her Swedish T-rings as a gift when she visited people. In addition to hundreds of encouraging notes she sent to people over the years, she also set a 20-year tradition of writing a letter and sending a dollar for the camp store to every Powers Lake kid that attended Camp Bentley Bible Camp.
Ardy spent the last weeks of her life at ProHealth in Minot, where staff cared for her tenderly and excellently. Preceding Ardy in death were Avin; their three infant sons, her parents, and sisters Carole Barenthsen and Dawn Brenno.
SURVIVORS: children, Candice (Barry) Helseth, Minot; Mark (Roxanne) Enget, Powers Lake; Jodi (Jeff) Johnson, Carpio; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Ryan (Maggie) Helseth and Avin, Margot and Ezra, Denver, CO; Amy (Justin) Troutt and Jaxon, Glendale, AZ; Kayla and Brandon Voller, Denver; Ashley and Brittani Enget, Houston, TX; Charissa Enget, Kamphaeng Saen,
Thailand; Jessi Johnson, Fargo; and Jasmin Johnson, Carpio; siblings, Delight Schroeder, Minot; David (Fay) Buness, Clancy, MT; Sandra Buness, Loveland, CO; brother-in-law, Dave Brenno, Minot; and several nieces and nephews.