Ardella Corbridge Nelson

Ardella Corbridge Nelson, longtime resident of Challis Idaho, passed away Tuesday, March 17th 2015 in Malad Idaho with her family at her bedside. Ardella was born April 20th, 1922 to Leslie Ambrose and Ruby May Claypool, in Sterling Idaho. She always thought it was neat that she was the seventh of ten children: Vernal, Glenn, Delbert, Elva, Loal, Doris, Ardella, Ila, Lorin and Elaine. She grew up in the Sterling area, attending schools in Sterling, Thomas and Aberdeen. After graduating, she met Bud Nelson at a church dance and they were married on Oct 23, 1942. They were later sealed for time and eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple. They had three children, Steve, Larry and Marva. Bud and Ardella also opened their home to Twig Carlin and their nephew, Dale Corbridge who both lived with them for several years. Bud and Ardella farmed in the Aberdeen area growing potatoes and operating a feed mill in town until 1958 when they moved to Challis where they fulfilled their dream by buying a cattle ranch at the mouth of Morgan Creek. They ran the ranch until 1980 when they sold the ranch to their son Larry and semi-retired, building a log home overlooking the ranch. Ardella lost the love of her life to an accident on July 23rd, 1984. In spite of a broken heart, she picked herself up and went on, saying, “ I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me”. She finished the landscaping for the house, building hundreds of feet of rock walls and steps with rocks taken from the hill behind the house. Bud and Ardella were active in the Old Time Fiddlers where they learned to play the fiddle and entertained at various events in the area. They loved living in Challis and enjoyed hunting, fishing, picnics and outings in the Morgan Creek area. She was known for her homemade bread and cinnamon rolls with the caramel icing. She loved to carpenter, remodeling several houses and building replicas of the Sterling church and dollhouses. For her birthday she said she would rather have hammer and saws than flower and perfume. She loves to laugh and being with people, always parting with the phrase, “Come see me.” She enjoyed helping and caring for others, and had various callings in the Church, but especially loved serving as the Compassionate Service Leader for many years. In 2008 she sold the log house and moved to Challis Creek to be near her granddaughter Arlene who helped care for her during her last years. Ardella was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings Vernal, Glenn, Delbert, Loal, Elva and Doris, daughter-in-law Jennie Nelson and best friend Loretta Bruno. She is survived by her children, Steve (Zianna) Nelson, Larry Nelson and Marva (Dan) Couch, her brother Lorin, and sisters Ila and Elaine. She leaves behind eight grandchildren, Pete (Shiley)Nelson, Arlene Nelson, Amos Nelson, Levi (Chandra) Nelson, Kate Brown, Layna (Ross) Irwin, Christi (Jason) Murdock and Johnny (Jessica) Servoss. Also eight great-grandchildren, Jenna, Cortney, Justice, Jack, June, Kelvin, Addy and Anny who all adore Grandma. She also has a new great–grandchild on the way.