L. Ardene Mullison

Lois “Ardene” Mullison died on August 15, 2024 at home in Casper, Wyoming.

Ardene was born at home on December 28, 1930 in Atchison County, Missouri to Donald and Lois (Draper) Armstrong. She joined her older sisters, Jean and Darlene, and was soon followed by brothers Walter, Jim, and three more sisters, Shirley, Beverly, and Linda. 

Ardene attended Emporia School District #1 country school through eighth grade, then spent two years at Westboro, Missouri high school before the family moved to Coin, Iowa In 1946. Ardene graduated from Coin Consolidated High School in 1948.

After graduation, Ardene’s mother took her to Shenandoah, IA to find a job and an apartment. Ardene worked at Mt. Arbor Nurseries until she met Richard “Dick” Mullison on a blind date arranged by her sister, Darlene, and Dick’s friend, Frank Manes. Dick and Ardene were married on August 14, 1949 in Sidney, Iowa. 

Following their marriage, Ardene and Dick farmed in Page and Fremont counties before moving to Spencer, IA in 1961. After a move to Omaha where Ardene worked at the Omaha World Herald taking want-ads over the phone, Ardene and Dick returned to Shenandoah in 1966. In Shenandoah, Ardene worked in the traffic department at KMA Radio before starting work at Eaton Corporation. Notably, she was the first woman to operate the Warner-Swasey lathe and she was quite proud of the fact that she could produce as many parts as any man on any shift.

In June of 1976, Ardene and Dick moved for the final time to Wyoming. In Wyoming, Ardene worked for Totco, a company that served the oil fields, and for the State of Wyoming.

In the midst of all their moves and jobs, Ardene and Dick made room in their lives for the love of seven children. They began with Jodie Liegh in 1950, followed by Amy Jo, Donald Elbert, Robert Allen, Jane Lois, Peter Brian, and finished with Emily Ann in 1971.

After her retirement, Ardene volunteered at the Trail Center in Casper for many years. Most important to her was the purpose and friendship she found at Holy Cross Food Bank as a volunteer for nearly 28 years. She spoke often of Joe, John, Carson, and all of the many volunteers she worked with, eager to share stories from her day of volunteering and the conversations she had with her friends there. It was clear that she had great fondness for the work and the people of Holy Cross Food Bank.

Those are the facts of Ardene. To share the spirit of Ardene, words such as resilient, tenacious, and generous must be used. Regardless of the often changing circumstances of her life, she did not let them define her. She was not afraid to tackle any obstacle or new challenge that came her way. She used her considerable skills as a seamstress to sew everything from everyday play clothes to wedding dresses for her children. She loved word games and played Scrabble like a gladiator.

Above all, she was curious - always willing to try new things and ask questions of anyone and everyone. She had a genuine desire to learn, whether that knowledge had any practical application in her life or not. It was the knowledge itself she valued. But, like the Missourian that she was, “Show me,” was likely to follow the answer to her question.

Preceding Ardene in death were her parents, her husband, siblings Jean Hamilton, Darlene Manes, Walt, Jim, and Shirley Braymen and sons-in-law Ray Genovese and Daniel Zollars.

Ardene leaves behind her siblings Linda Hrbek (John) and Beverly Delehant and dozens of nieces and nephews. 

Missing her dearly are her children Jodie Genovese, Amy Zollars, Don and wife, Anne, Bob and wife, Lucia, Jane Orth and husband, Tom, Peter and wife, Felica, and Emily Martinez. 

Grandchildren Nicole Sampson (John) and Marc Genovese, Phoebe Pittman (Rob) and Sam Zollars (Sara Nolta), Cleo Mullison and Ollie Mullison, Sarah McNeil, Zach Orth (Ashley), Phil Orth, and Joanna Orth (J.T. Guinta), Emilie Mullison, Simon Martinez (Richelle Dietz) and Ava Martinez.

Great-grandchildren Nick and Tyler Sampson, Zadie and Fiona Pittman, Olivia Brackin and Ronan Zollars, Emma, Bella, J.J. and Holly McNeil, Carter and Whitley Orth and Landon Huckaby.

Ardene leaves behind many others whose life she touched including Andy, Joe, John, and Carson. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the Holy Cross Food Bank of Casper and Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions, Casper.

Casper services for Ardene will be held at Newcomers Funeral Home on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will be held at Union Grove Cemetery, Northboro Iowa in the spring of 2025.

To view Lois' funeral service, please visit https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcyNDQ2MDg2NDMyNTExMCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==