Ardith Lorraine Nienhuser, age 92, of Sidney, NE, passed peacefully to her husband, Heavenly loved ones, and savior Saturday, April 5, 2025.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. at the Trinity Lutheran South Divide Church south of Sidney with Pastor Neil Carlson and Rev. George Naylor officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Trinity Lutheran South Divide Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Lutheran Women Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place, suite L010, St. Louis, Missouri 63105.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 11, 2025 from 1-6:00 P.M. at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel in Sidney.

You may view Ardith’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Ardith’s care and funeral arrangements.

Ardith was born on August 3, 1932, in Norfolk, NE, to Leonard and Edythe (Hazen) Kocina. She graduated from Verdigre High School in 1949. Following her high school graduation, she went on to attend Wayne State College and Chadron State College to obtain a Bachelor’s of Education. She later married Kenneth W. Nienhuser on June 14, 1953.

Ardith was a self-described farm wife, mother, and teacher. As a farm wife, she worked alongside her husband, Kenneth, to farm and raise her four boys in Sidney. Ardith often said she spent a lot of time praying while raising her boys.

Ardith was a teacher in Lorenzo and inspired many of her students to become teachers themselves. She helped her students throughout their lives and remained in touch with many of them.


Aside from teaching, Ardith had may hobbies that included reading, sending and receiving notes, cards, and letters, crossword puzzles, painting, scrapbooking, and many more. She was busy and loved being that way. She was also actively involved in church and community organizations and blessed many through her work.

Ardith was proud of her husband, sons, family, her faith, and being a good teacher. She survived many health challenges and always found way to be at peace with what her life had given her. Ardith had many stories that she often told about the events in her life. She always spoke fondly of her childhood; how much she loved her parents and growing up with her sister. She would often laugh at her son’s antics when they were younger. Ardith loved her grandkids, great-grandkids, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and always made it a point to stay in touch with them as they formed their own lives. Ardith had a very close relationship with her caregivers Angelyn, her mother, Lynette, Angelyn’s daughter, Alyssa, and her granddaughter, Ashlyn. She had a good sense of humor and wit. She was loving, caring, and gracious to those she knew for a long time and those she had just met. She made all of who knew her feel special and cared about. She was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.

Ardith is survived by her sons, Scott (Angelyn), Tyler (Jolene), Stanley (MaryAnn), and Wesley; sister, Nepha Franks; and sister-in-law, Carol Nienhuser; and 13 grandchildren, Ryan (Sarah) Nienhuser, Scyler (Kirsten) Foos, Kendall (Wyett) Anglin, Kenneth, Zachary, Michael, Hazen (Payton), Alyssa Sage, Andrew, and Madalyn Nienhuser and 12 great-grandchildren. Along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth; parents-in-law, Louis and Violet Nienhuser; sister-in-law, Emogene (Carl) Davis; brothers-in-law, Jack, Louis, Jr. (Betty Ann) Nienhuser; and great-grandchildren, Hayden Sage and Adisyn Neinhuser.