Ardis E Christensen, 89, of Sioux Falls, SD and formerly of Pharr, TX passed away Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Dougherty Hospice House from pancreatic cancer. Ardis Eldene Hahn was born April 23, 1926 to John A and Frances (Voeltz) Hahn on a farm near Vilas, SD. It was a snowy day and the doctor arrived by horse and buggy. She began her education in a one room school house through 6th grade when the family moved south of Madison, SD. She attended Orland Consolidated School district through 11th grade and graduated from Chester High School in 1944. Upon graduation she moved to Sioux Falls and was employed as a bookkeeper at Koehn Company. On weekends she attended dances at the Sioux Falls Coliseum where she met the "love of her life", George Velazquez, of Chicago, IL who was in the Air Force and stationed at the air base in Sioux Falls, SD. She moved to Chicago where they were united in marriage January 26, 1946. She worked as a bookkeeper until they moved to Guadalajara, Mexico to work in a family business. They returned to Chicago in late 1950. Their first child, George Ramon Velazquez was born January 19, 1951. Debra Frances Velazquez followed May 4, 1953. In 1954 Ardis returned to Sioux Falls, as a single mother, and worked as a bookkeeper. She married Clarence V. Christensen December 13, 1958. They relocated to Minneapolis, MN in 1963. She worked at several accounting firms and managed a dental office until her retirement in 1988. Clarence and Ardis moved back to Sioux Falls in August 1988 and she became an avid member of The Center for Active Generations and The Golden Age Dance Club. She attended First Lutheran Church and was thankful for her faith. One of her favorite scriptures was Romans 5:1 "therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Ardis was a skilled bridge player, and a great dancer. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, traveling, gourmet cooking and baking. In 2013 she personally baked 42 dozen assorted cookies for the First Lutheran Church annual bazaar.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, George (Monie) Velazquez, Elk River, MN, and Debra Velazquez (special friend David Petersen), Sioux Falls; six grandchildren, Chrystal (Daniel) Hukriede, Paynesville, MN, Erica Knutson, Staples, MN, Carmen (Eric) Olguin, Denver, CO, Beau Bunkers, Yankton, SD, Nina Maria Bunkers, Goodyear, AZ, and Max Diego Bunkers, Rapid City, SD; seven great grandchildren, Joseph, Sadie, Allison, Ian, Jake, Emma and Bennu; 4 brothers, Amos Hahn, Worthing, SD, John (Sandy) Hahn, Brooklyn Center, MN, Rodney Hahn, Corona, CA, Morty (Brenda) Hahn, Colman, and 3 sisters Delda (Darlow) Inberg, San Antonio, TX, Sandra (Jim) Hansen, Flagstaff, AZ, and Lana Hahn, Sioux Falls and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Pharr, TX.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 1:00 pm at the Colman Cemetery, Colman. Visitation will begin at 12:15 prior to the service at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Colman.
Condolences can be sent to: Debi Velazquez, 5104 N Harvestore Rd, Sioux Falls, SD 57107