Ardiss Eloise Larson

Ardiss Eloise Larson of Anacortes died Dec. 24, 2005 at Island Hospital in Anacortes. She was 92.

She was born Aug. 18, 1913 in Monroe, the daughter of Alfred S. and Alice Kristine (Hamre) Benson and, along with her three brothers, grew up in Lynden, Wash.

In Lynden, Ardiss attended grade school through high school and, upon graduation, attended Business College in Bellingham, where she received her degree. She then went on to work for the county performing clerical work.

While Ardiss was attending Business College, she met a special young man named Alvie. They fell in love and married several years later.

Al worked at Bellingham Shipyard and Ardiss was employed in the office of Olympic Portland Cement Company. When the Bellingham Shipyard closed, Al sought work elsewhere and took a job at the Friday Harbor Sand and Gravel Co., so Ardiss and Al moved to San Juan Island.

While in San Juan Island, she accepted an offer from the courthouse auditor and took on the intense job that involved learning the duties of every department.

Ardiss and Al worked hard but enjoyed life on the island because it was less crowded and more serene than the mainland. They spent 25 years together here. One special enjoyment was their large boat, which they used for fishing and relaxing.

Ardiss and Al traveled to California and other places in their motor home. They also enjoyed a trip to the Hawaiian Islands.

Alvie’s poor health brought them back from the island to their family on the mainland. They made their home in Mount Vernon and later moved to Yakima, since both of them had family there.

Alvie died shortly after they moved to Yakima, but Ardiss stayed on in Yakima until April 2004, when she moved to Chandler’s Square in Anacortes.

Ardiss’ hobbies included playing the organ, reading, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and many types of games.

Ardiss is preceded in death by her husband, parents and two brothers.

She is survived by her brother, Wayne Bitterman of Bellevue, Wash.; sister-in-law, Mary Benson of Yakima, Wash.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Elmer and Lou Larson of Yakima, Wash.; nephews, LeRoy Benson, Marvin Benson and Jerry Benson; nieces, Judy Potter, Sheila Lawton and Sharon Jonsson; and many grand- and great-grandnephews and nieces.

A funeral service was held Dec. 29, 2005 at Evans Funeral Chapel in Anacortes with Pastor Debra Benson officiating. Burial followed the funeral service at Green Acres Memorial Park in Ferndale, Wash.

— The Ardiss Eloise Larson family