Ardis M. Badger

Ardis Badger-Jimenez, age 88 of Wayland, passed away January 30, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Rose Sprague; husbands Dale Badger and Robert Jimenez; daughter, Dawn Krauss; siblings Philemon “Gale," Joseph, Amos, Hank, Roger, Anna Mae Chlebana, Margaret Sipkema; son-in-law, Bill Overbeck, niece, Leah Sprague-Fodor. She is survived by her daughters Leslie (Dave) Studey, Dee Anne Badger, Gail Overbeck; stepchildren Daniel (Norma) Jimenez, Elizabeth (Noe) Alonzo, Linda Anaya (Nic Palumbo), Hector (Concha) Jimenez, Dina (Rocky) Anaya, 13 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; brother, DK Sprague.

Ardis worked for 30 years at Spectrum Health as a surgical technician and made many lifelong friends there. After retiring, she went to work for the Gun Lake Tribe as a tribal council member and enrollment clerk. She loved attending softball games and going to Gun Lake Casino where she was affectionately known as the queen of GLC. Ardis was a woman of strong faith, a loyal friend to many, and an auntie to all. She made an impact on everyone she met and took in anyone who needed help. She had a wonderfully silly sense of humor and a great love for life and family. Our family history and knowledge of where we came from was important to her. She kept records of family going back five generations to the chief of our tribe. Her stories will be passed down through our family for future generations. Ardis was happily married to Dale Badger for 40 years. After his passing, she was reintroduced to her high school sweetheart, Robert. 60 years after high school, they were married, and the Jimenez family became her second family. We are grateful to them for the love and respect they gave to our mother.

A service celebrating her life will be held 11 a.m. Friday, February 3, 2023 at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, 4330 18th Ave., Dorr, MI. A time for relatives and friends to visit with Ardis’ family will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, February 2, and one hour prior to services at the Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, Dorr. In lieu of flowers and in memory of Ardis, memorial contributions may be made to The Society of Indian Missions, P.O. box 1398, Mission, SD 57555. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guestbook online at www.kubiakcookdorr.com.