Ardella Kensok

She was only sixteen when she said yes.

Young in years but steady in spirit, she married Don and stepped into a life of hard work and long seasons, never imagining how much living she would fit into ninety-two years.

She became a farmer’s wife in every sense of the word. She rose with the sun and worked without complaint. Her gardens grew in tidy rows — tomatoes heavy on the vine, beans climbing upward, corn rustling in the summer wind. And always flowers. Petunias, snapdragons, marigolds — bright reminders that beauty belonged, even in a life of labor.

She canned what she grew and baked as naturally as breathing. Bread rose under flour-dusted towels, pies cooling on the counter. Ten children gathered at her table where there was always enough.

She sewed clothes, patched knees, mowed the yard, and cleared fallen branches — her hands strong and unafraid of work.

And yet, she loved fashion, makeup, and having her hair just right. Hair set and outfit chosen thoughtfully, she carried herself with care and pride. Whether heading to church or out on a walk, she understood that strength and beauty could live side by side.

Sundays were her greatest joy. The house was filled with children, grandchildren, laughter, music, and the smell of home-cooked meals and sweet baked goods. Holidays — especially Christmas — were her masterpiece. She didn’t just build a home; she built a gathering place.

She had a rare gift for making people feel they belonged. Her home was always open, and she treated her children’s friends like her own, becoming a mother figure to many who needed the steady love she gave so freely.

In later years, Alzheimer’s slowly took pieces of memory, and she lost Don — the boy she married and the man who had walked beside her through every season of life. Yet even as details faded, her grace, warmth, and quiet dignity remained.

Ninety-two years of yard work and grocery lists, flour and flowers, and deep love.

Her legacy is one of kindness, generosity, and unwavering devotion to family. The love she gave so freely lives on in the hearts of all who knew her.

She began as a sixteen-year-old bride.

She became the heart of a family.

And now, where memory is clear and seasons are gentle, she is walking beside Don again — her hair just right, her spirit whole.

Ardella Kensok, 92, of Fargo died Saturday, February 14, 2026.  Ardella was born on March 13, 1933, on the Liebelt family farm southwest of Harvey. She was the daughter of Rudolph and Mary (Schimke) Liebelt. 

Ardella is survived by her children: Deb (Bob) Schultz, West Fargo, ND; Brenda (Steve) Pickle, Pelican Rapids, MN; Connie (Kurt) Blotsky, Underwood, MN; Anita (Bob) Radermacher, Fargo, ND; Theresa (Dean) Nelson, Portland, ND; Mike (Marsha) Kensok, Fargo, ND; Amy (Mike) McLean, Fargo, ND; and Peggy (Amy) Kensok, Chaffee, ND. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great‑grandchildren, who lovingly knew her as “Grandma Della,” as well as her sisters, Eileen Haugen and Verna Martin; brother, Leroy Liebelt; and sister-in-law, Patricia Dimmer.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; sons, Dennis Kensok and Kevin Kensok; grandson, Brady Schultz; her parents; sisters, Edna Feickert Ebach, Hertha Alexander, and Linda Lamm; and brothers, Raymond, Wilbert, Arnold, Helmuth, Marvin, and Vernon Liebelt.

Open House: Monday, February 23, 2026, from 5-7 pm, with sharing time at 6:30 pm at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND.             

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