Obituary of Ardith Pflibsen

Ardith Ann Pflibsen, 86, passed peacefully into eternity on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at Rocky Mountain Assisted Living/Memory Care in Wheat Ridge, CO. She was born on November 25, 1931, in Gilmore City, IA, the third of four children (two boys and two girls) born to Nels and Alice Benjamin. Ardith Benjamin married Garmen Eugene Pflibsen on December 11, 1949, at Bode Lutheran Church in Bode, IA, where they attended services. They had five children: Allen Kent, Carla Jean, Pauline Gayle, Byron Dean, and Sheila Jane. They moved from Bode to Spirit Lake, IA, in 1968. She worked at Dickinson County Hospital as a ward clerk for 6 years and as a pharmacist's tech. for 13. In 1987 they moved to Colorado where she and Garmen managed two different storage centers and an apartment house until their retirement. They spent several years traveling in their motor home, settling in Mitchell, SD, for a few years and eventually moving back to Colorado. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Garmen Pflibsen; parents, Nels and Alice Benjamin; brothers, Freddy Benjamin and Gene Benjamin; and her youngest son, Byron Dean Pflibsen. She is survived by her sister, Linda Kaye Benjamin, Denver, CO; and four children: Allen and Leanne Pflibsen of Thornton, CO; Carla and Steve Hamilton of Spirit Lake, IA; Pauline and Howard Patterson of San Andreas, CA; and Sheila and Kirk Monson of Urbana, IA; nine grandchildren: Craig Pflibsen, Matthew Patterson, Trent Patterson, Laurie (Pflibsen) Cobb, Byron Ashley Patterson, Amber (Hamilton) Woelfel, Rachel (Monson) Lazenby, Kaia Monson, and Sydney Monson; nine great grandchildren: Elijah Sosa Pflibsen, Madison Patterson, Caitlyn Cobb, Lily Patterson, Jamie Cobb, Byron Howard Patterson, Emelia Patterson, Hunter Patterson, and Kaiya Patterson; and 19 nieces and nephews. Ardith's visitation in Colorado will be on Wednesday, January 24, 6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m., at Feldman Mortuary, 1673 York St., Denver, CO. Ardith's visitation in Iowa will be on Saturday, January 27, 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake, IA. Her funeral will be on Saturday, January 27, at 1:00 p.m., at the same location. She will be buried next to her husband, Garmen, and her son, Byron Dean, at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake, IA. Contributions may be made in Ardith's name to: Children's Hospital, 13123 East 16th Ave., Aurora, Colorado 80045, 720-777-1234.