Ardis Louise Melby

Ardis Louise Melby, 90, of Moorhead, MN, passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND.

Ardis was born October 6, 1935, in Moorhead, MN, the only child of Arthur and Mary (Purrier) Burud. She grew up in Ulen, MN, where she graduated from high school and met the love of her life, Donald Melby. Ardis and Donald were married in February 1952 and lived in Fargo, where they raised their 3 children together.

In the early years, Ardis worked as a waitress and cleaned for various businesses, but she devoted her life to taking care of her father until he passed away in 1972. After his passing, she began driving bus for the Moorhead School district, a job which she enjoyed because of her love for children. When she was younger, she enjoyed knitting and other yarn crafts and spending time at the family lake cabin on West Cormorant Lake. For the past 6 years, she especially enjoyed spending time on her many jigsaw puzzles. Ardis loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but she was a very important part of Tyler and Ashley’s lives as they were growing up and Tyler took special care of Ardis in her later years.

Ardis is survived by her children, Diane Everhart, Daniel (Heidi) Melby and Nikki Aipperspach; grandchildren, Marci (Joe) Brown, Jodi (Jeremy) Bachmeier, Jami Yokley, Tyler Aipperspach and Ashley Wynne; great-grandchildren, Stephanie Carlson, Austin Olheiser, Molly Elmore, Joslyn Bachmeier, Dawson Bachmeier, Jude Yokley and Isaiah Yokley, and great-great-granddaughter, Amiah Olheiser.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Donald Melby.

 A visitation will be held Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.