Ardith Marie Sahl

It is with great sadness that the family announce the peaceful passing of Ardith Marie Sahl on December 23, 2025 at the age of 96 in Longmont, CO . She was born near Big Stone City, SD. The youngest of seven children, Ardie grew up with a pioneer spirit, often sharing stories of harvesting ice from frozen lakes to fill the family icebox. After attending a one-room country school and graduating from Ortonville High School, she returned to that same country schoolhouse to teach for two years.

In the 1950s, Ardie’s journey took her to St. Paul and eventually Denver, where she served as a stenographer for Governor Love and worked with the Land Acquisitions Commission during the founding of the Air Force Academy.

In 1956, she married Wayne Frodin (later divorced). Together, they raised four children and eventually moved to an acreage west of Berthoud, CO, taking immense pride in serving entirely homegrown meals from their garden and livestock. Ardie also spent many years as a beloved secretary at Mead Elementary, where she was known for her kindness and "repairing" the minor injuries of the students she loved.

An exceptional seamstress and notable weaver, Ardie was famous for creating fashionable Barbie clothes for her daughters, scarves for friends from her loom and, later, stunning dancing dresses for herself. Her passion for dance led her to meet Howard Sahl. The two married in 1996 and were a striking pair on the dance floor and liked to celebrate New Year’s Eve by dancing together in their dining room.

In her later years at Atria after Howard passed, Ardie finally pursued her lifelong dream of watercolor painting. She was already an avid oil painter. Ever vibrant and musical, she loved playing the piano and singing in church and for friends.

Ardie is survived by her children: Janet (Rob) Harsh, David (Jill) Frodin, Dallas (Jeff) Bottineau, and Julie (Don) Van Heemst; 8 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Diane, granddaughter, Mia, and husband, Howard.