Ardella Marcella Weidner

1935 - 2024

Ardella Marcella Weidner

KENNEWICK, WA - Ardella Marcella Weidner, born March 20, 1935, in Beulah, North Dakota, peacefully passed away at her Kennewick, Washington home on March 21, 2024 at age 89. She was the eldest child of the Renner farming family, where German was her first language. Ardella's thirst for knowledge led her to learn English in the one-room schoolhouse in Beulah that she attended through 8th grade with deep regret for not being able to continue to high school.

In adulthood, Ardella and her sister Shirley relocated to Bismarck, North Dakota, and later to Quincy, Washington, where they worked at a hospital thanks to their aunt Selma Renner. It was in Quincy that Ardella reconnected with Ray Weidner, whom she had known in North Dakota. Their wedding in 1956 marked the beginning of a journey that included raising four children, residing in Quincy, Kennewick, and Finley, and ultimately parting ways in 1972. In 1979, Lee Smith became a member of Ardella's household, and together they shared a passion for music, travel, and square dancing as members of the Shuffler Shanty square dancers.

Ardella's professional journey saw her wear many hats, from a massage therapist and house cleaner in the 1970s to a clerical career following her attendance at Modern Business College. She held positions at the Tri-Cities Board of Realtors, Westinghouse Hanford, and other Hanford contractors until her retirement in 2000.

Ardella was an avid gardener, cook, artist, genealogist, and musician. Her love of gardening yielded an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Ardella was a skilled home cook whose Christmas cookies, pies, and traditional German dishes left a lasting impression. She was a talented artist who loved sewing, needle arts, and painting. She was a dedicated genealogist, tracing her Germans-from-Russia heritage hundreds of years to the Odessa and Crimea areas of Russia and back to origins in Germany. She organized a German-language singing group and was librarian of the local chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. She played accordion and piano, and she and Lee performed music together at local events.

Ardella is survived by her children DelRae Lynn (Marv) Bultena, Keith Scott (Nancy) Weidner, Todd Casey (Sarah) Weidner, and Lori Beth Weidner (Stoney Davis); grandchildren Casey (Tara) Weidner, Matt (Rachel) Weidner, Khris Brown, Stephen Lincoln, Dale (Laura) Wickwire, Ryan (Jenn) Weidner, Evan Rorie, Andrew Rorie, Allister Glenn; favorite granddaughter Jamie Rae Page; great grandchildren Dilon Sheehan, Kassi Wickwire, Maya Wickwire, Zach Weidner, Zoe Weidner, Alixandra Mahan, Shalin Mahan, Braylee Mahan; brother Wayne Renner; and beloved sister Shirley Ann McKerlie. Ardella was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Freda Renner and sister Donna Thielman.

A memorial will be held at Mueller's Funeral Home, 1401 S Union Street, Kennewick, WA 99338 on Friday March 29. Viewing and visiting from noon to 1pm. Funeral service at 1pm. Reception to follow at her daughter's home.

In honoring Ardella's memory, her family kindly requests that a tree, flower, or vegetable garden be planted in her honor. Ardella's legacy of family ties and resilience will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.