Ardis E. Swanson Almén

Ardis E. Swanson Almén July 16, 1927 – November 1, 2026

Ardis Almén, 99, died peacefully in the early hours of November 1, joining the communion of saints on All Saints' Day. At the time she was living in a Memory Care unit in Long Grove, IL.

Ardis was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Robert G. Swanson and Florence Leonard Swanson. She grew up on Wright Street, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins, with holidays spent traveling to or hosting the Minnesota side of the family. Lifelong friendships began early, including with neighbors and classmates Kenny and Charlie Reid. As a girl she was a gifted ice skater who dreamed of becoming the next Sonja Henie. Faith was the center of her family's life, and she was an active member of Grand View Lutheran Church throughout her childhood.

At Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, a pastor told her she should meet a young man named Louis Almén when she arrived. At their first meeting, the blush on his face told her he had been told he needed to meet her, too. They were soon dating, and married in 1945, sharing a loving partnership—grateful to God and to each other—until the end of his life. When asked the secret to making a marriage work, Ardis said, “Sometimes you give a little more, sometimes you take a little more.”

Ardis's first job was resettling World War II refugees from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, helping physicians, scientists, and tradespeople find work in the farming communities of Iowa working with Lutheran Welfare Society. The belief that faith calls us to action and to love our neighbor stayed with her all her life, and she never saw her work as charity, only as what Christians are called to do when we actively on love our neighbor.

Louis's career as a Lutheran pastor, professor, church executive, and college president took them from Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Rock Island, Illinois (where he taught at Augustana College) then to Edison, New Jersey, West Chester, Pennsylvania, and finally to Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he served, and they served, as President and First Lady of Thiel College.

While in Rock Island, Ardis substitute taught hosting many gatherings in their home of students and professors and visiting speakers. During that time, she always cherished singing in Augustana’s holiday performance of The Messiah.

At Augustana, they met Kenny and Connie Andeen and the two families raised their children together, even at a distance. The Andeens' gift of a box of Wisconsin dirt one Christmas led the family to buy property near Sugar Maple Lake in Phelps, Wisconsin. The family began with a tent, then a tool shed with homemade bunk beds. Years later, the home became the summer retirement cottage they had imagined with the Andeens just down the road.

Ardis and Louis cherished their three children, Peter, Mary, and Ruth and, while all were adopted, unconditional love in word and action was how they were raised. Ardis was a devoted mother, and often the person waiting in the car or at the kitchen table, ready to listen. She was a fantastic cook and her brownies became a bit of a legend.

Her compassion shaped her community. In New Jersey, she taught at a school for children with physical disabilities and started a Girl Scout troop for girls who otherwise would not have had one. She took her daughter to her first protest against discrimination toward a Black family in their neighborhood. She helped her church welcome a family of refugees from Cambodia and, later at Thiel College, helped a family of eight who had fled danger in Namibia. Years later, the Namibian family welcomed her and Louis into their own home with love and honor. When the local steel industry faltered, Ardis spearheaded a community food pantry in her church basement starting in 1978, supporting it quietly for years and without her name attached. Good Shepherd still serves the community today.

As a pastor's and college president's wife, Ardis was a gracious and tireless host. In her first year at Thiel alone, she welcomed 10,000 guests into her home and the hosting and feeding continued throughout their years there.. She learned to needlepoint to create covers for her church's kneelers, and then expanded that to a project for the Thiel Women’s Club. In retirement, she and Louis split their time between Phelps and a winter condo in Florida where she cherished a circle of friends affectionately known as "the pool honeys," who were silly, faithful, and encouraging. While at the Haven, she and Louis sung in a choir that performed for the “old people” at the nursing home, and she was a tireless volunteer for the Haven’s annual rummage sale directing the linens department, and raising money for people in the nursing home who needed funds for personal expenses.

Even as dementia took much from her in her final years, her faith and her humor remained strong and familiar. Her daughter Ruth’s hashtag, #TravelsWithArdis, began years ago with her comment that Kentucky needed more rest areas, and grew into a way of sharing her with friends and reminding other caregivers that they are not alone.

Ardis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis; her son, Peter Almén; her brother, Orrin Swanson; sisters-in-law, Vivian Randall and Lila Swanson; and her niece, Karen Powell. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Mineo of Greeley, Colorado, and Ruth Almén of Deerfield, Illinois; grandchildren Kristi, Sam, Courtney, Kyra, and Alayna; four great-grandchildren; nephew Bob Swanson; nieces Kay Ward and Karlene Stokka and their cherished families; and goddaughter Kathi Andeen Campbell, and her beloved family.

Thank you to some fabulous nurses and caregivers in Memory Care for their support, care, and good humor, especially Nurse Annie, and volunteer Tom from Hospice. Thanks to all of you who have not forgotten Mom, including those who sent so many joyous birthday cards to remember her birthday over SO many years! Thanks to countless friends and family for showing your support – both in seen and unseen ways. Keep showing up for each other and our Mom would want us to say now: Thanks be to God!

On November 19th, visitation will be from 12 – 1, with a funeral following at 1:00 in Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN. Service will be followed by the burial at Resurrection Cemetary, and afterwards there will be snacks and drinks to follow on campus.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Good Shepherd Food Pantry, www.thegoodshepherdcenter.org (Greenville PA), Global Refuge, www.globalrefuge.org, or to Thiel College, (Greenville, PA) to the Louis T. and Ardis Almén Endowment Fund at: https://thielcollege.wufoo.com/forms/z7wj4rg03okplv/ or donate your time to help your neighbors.