Ardyce Habeger Samp, 87, passed away March 3 at Riverview Manor, Flandreau, SD where she has been a resident for the past six years. She was born to Jake and Rosella (Klostreich) Habeger in Madison, SD April 4, 1922. She attended elementary school in Madison and Rutland graduating from Wentworth High School. She is an alumnus of Eastern State Teachers College; now Dakota State University. Ardyce married band director/educator Elden Samp June 29, 1941. They lived in Wentworth, Menno and Bridgewater prior to World War II. Elden enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Florida while his ship USS Yosemite was being completed. Ardyce was a volunteer with the USO and a plankholder of the ship. When the USS Yosemite sailed to join the Battle for the Pacific in World War II, she returned to Wentworth. Ardyce's passion for writing began early in life with a pencil and tablet, wore out numerous typewriters and in later years adapted to computers. She sold her first article in 1947 to "Better Homes and Gardens" which sparked a writing career spanning over 50 years. After World War II, the Samps returned to Bridgewater and subsequently moved to Flandreau where she has resided since 1948 raising a family, active in church/civic groups and writing. "On the Range" by Ardyce was a weekly food column in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader from 1948-1976. Another weekly food column "Country Cookin'" appeared in numerous regional newspapers. She was also an Argus Leader feature story writer focusing on area history and personalities. Ardyce worked in the family business, Flandreau Furniture, and helped her youngest son Timothy fight a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis until his death in 1982. After Timothy's death she had her own ministry writing parents of children stricken with terminal diseases. She resumed her writing career with several award-winning historical monograms, over 20 recipe books, hundreds of short stories and three books, When Coffee Was A Nickel a regional bestseller, When Movies Were A Dime and Penny Candy Days. Ardyce was a frequent contributor to the Dakota History Conference at DSU and its successor host Center for Western Studies, Augustana College. She was a monthly feature story writer for "The SD Highlander", official publication of the REA and a frequent feature writer for the "South Dakota Magazine" and "The Lake News" for 19 years. One of her great joys as a writer was mentoring younger writers. She had an outreach program for elementary students. Ardyce would write part of a story and the students would complete the story, helping inspire young creative writers. Her awards include SD Hall of Fame Writer of the Year, SD Historical Society Historian of the Year, numerous Dakota History Conference Awards, and General Federation of Women's Club, "National Woman of Achievement Award" along with Dakota State University "Outstanding Leader of the Arts". She served many years on the South Dakota Humanities Council and was a member of PEO, Questers, Athena Club, American Legion Auxiliary, General Federation of Women Club, Flandreau Cemetery Association Board, Flandreau Chamber of Commerce, Lake Madison Development Association, Prairie Village, Cystic Fibrosis Association, Board of Smith-Zimmerman Museum and South Dakota Historical Society. She has been a supporter of the Shrine of Music since its inception. Ardyce was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church where she was a Sunday School teacher and a leader in a variety of church groups.

Ardyce is survived by a daughter Cynthia (Duayne) Boesch, Brookings, their children T. Sgt. Tony (Jenn) Boesch and great-granddaughter Alexius, Sioux Falls, Sgt. Daniel (Katie), Fenton, MO and April Boesch, St. Paul, MN. Also she is survived by her son, Rolly (Karen), their children Michael (Julie) Samp and great-grandchildren Jacob, Margaret Karen and Peter, Sioux Falls, Matthew Samp, Omaha, Rebecca Vostad, Sioux Falls, and Elizabeth Antonio (Joe), Denver along with being "Grandma" to their over 60 foster children including special grandchildren John Fire and his daughter, Laramie, Sioux Falls, great-grandchild, Christine Egert, St. Paul, MN and Susan Samp Chau (Young) and family, Watsonville, CA. She is also survived by two sisters, LaVonne Hass, Madison and Eileen (Dr. Jerry) Marek of Sioux Falls and their family. She will also be missed by special friend Dr. Arthur Matson of Flandreau and his family. Ardyce was preceded in death by her parents, an infant twin brother, husband Elden and son Timothy.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Monday, March 8 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Flandreau with burial in Union Cemetery, Flandreau. The family will be present at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Sunday, March 7 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm with a Prayer Service at 5:00 p.m. The family has designated a Memorial at Augustana College/Center for Western Studies.