Ardis Elaine Petersen Prets

Ardis Elaine Petersen Prets was embraced by her Savior on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Ardis was born on September 19, 1933, the fifth of nine children born actually in their home in Makoti, North Dakota. She was the beloved daughter of Hans Christian Erhart Petersen and May Olesen Petersen. 

Greeting her in heaven was her devoted husband of 53 years, Dick Prets, her parents, and five of her siblings, Clinton Petersen (Yvonne), Alice Simpson (Bill), Darold Petersen (Adella),her twin brothers, Reggie Petersen and Richie Petersen, and brother-in-law, Alger Arness. 

Siblings left to cherish their memories of her are Lois Arness, Norine and Doug Shamberger, Marge Petersen, and Jerry and Mary Petersen, as well as her special cousin, Merna Hansen. Ardis’ four children Sandra Prets, Richard (Alice) Prets, Rene’ (Jim) Mahan, and Anthony (Georgann) Prets all felt like God had sneaked an angel out of heaven and loaned her to them. 

After graduating salutatorian of her class in high school, Ardis attended Jamestown College and taught school in North Dakota. She then moved to Santa Monica, California, with her good friend, Peggy West, who has kept in touch all these years! There she went on a blind date and met her forever love, Dick Prets, who was in the Army. They married ten months later on April 12, 1958, at Santa Monica Catholic Church. Together, they moved to Galveston to begin married life. She supported Dick, who ran Prets Lumber Company, while also giving birth to their four children in 3 years and 10 months! She obviously had little time for herself, but you never would have known it. She was the kindest and gentlest soul in the world! 

Ardis went back to teaching when her youngest began kindergarten. She taught third grade at Our Lady of Guadalupe School for many years. She loved her students, and they adored her. Mom took her job as a mother and a teacher to heart. In the summers, she would buy her four children workbooks in the 3 R’s, and to the chagrin of the Williamson girls, if they came over to play while we were doing our school work at the kitchen table, Mom would sweetly tell them that we had to finish our lessons first! Jane Williamson was Mom’s best friend on the home front, helping each other as they raised their children as next door neighbors for many years! Ardis and Dick never missed their kids’ choir concerts, ballgames, dance performances, track meets, or other activities and competitions! 

They continued this unwavering love and support for their nine grandchildren who were the light of their lives. Ariell Slater (Benny) Emily Prets Cost (Zach), Trey Mahan (Lissett), Richie Prets (Angelique), Gretchen Mahan  Frazee (David), Sidney Prets, Petersen Mahan (Courteney), Parker Prets (Devin), and Gabby Prets, who all adored their Grammie and Papou. Great-grandchildren left to miss their beautiful Grammie are Pelagia and Maddox Slater, Aubrey, Michael and Ethan Mahan, Danielle Rivera, Gabi, Ani, and Yoni Frazee, and Amiya Prets. She also leaves behind two precious women who have loved her and helped with her care for two years, Carrie Windham and Shari Bridgeman.  

Ardis’ service will be held on Saturday morning, October 25, 2025 starting at 10:00.  After the service, at J. Levy and Termini Funeral Home, burial will be at Galveston Memorial Park in Hitchcock. 

If you would like to remember her with a memorial, Ardis wanted to honor Dick’s love for Shriners Children’s Hospital at 825 Market, Galveston, Texas 77550.  Precious Mother, may our Lord hold you tightly until we meet again.  Tell Daddy we love him! 

We love you, Mom! You were the best!

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