Ardie Lien

Ardith “Ardie” Mae Lien (Haeg), 94, “flew away” on May 20, 2026, with her three loving children by her side at North Shore Health in Grand Marais, Minnesota.

Ardie was born on a crisp Saturday, January 23, 1932, to Esther (Lunde) and George Haeg of Bloomington, Minnesota. One of five living children, she was the second eldest daughter. After graduating from Bloomington High School, she met the love of her life, the late Robert “Bob” Lien. Ardie devoted much of her life to caring for Bob following a devastating car accident in 1962 that left him a quadriplegic. Together, they shared 55 years of marriage and an unbreakable bond before Bob’s passing in September 2005. Following the accident, their home became the heart of the community when Bob was asked to lead Richfield Schools Credit Union (now recognized as Richfield Bloomington Credit Union or RBCU). Starting in 1966, Ardie and Bob ran the credit union out of their basement for a decade, hosting board meetings around their dining room table while neighbors routinely visited their basement to conduct business. It was a true family operation; Ardie and Bob simultaneously managed the Richfield Chamber of Commerce from the house, while daughters Debbie and Lori recall working downstairs as tellers, taking deposits and helping neighbors with withdrawals. Ardie handled her role as assistant, host, and coordinator of it all with immense grit and grace.

As her family’s beloved matriarch, Ardie will be remembered for always having a pan of bars or cookies on hand, her passion for a good sports game, and the cherished time she spent at her cabin on Lake Superior with family and friends. She was a dedicated bridge player for many years and made lifelong friends everywhere she went. Her family will forever treasure her legendary generosity with blankets, TV remotes, and food—she was happiest when her grandkids were cozy, the television was tuned to sports or the Game Show Network, and everyone went back for seconds, thirds, and dessert.

While her vocal and rhythmical talent may have been questionable, she more than made up for it with enthusiasm, bringing endless fun to those she loved. She was always jumping at the chance to loudly harmonize in song, and famously donned her sparkling red, white, and blue dance costume every Independence Day—even dancing on the table for a good belly laugh. Ardie was always the first to rouse a group “cheers” at cocktail hour, whether with her iconic Windsor sodas at home or a margarita on The Tavern rooftop.

A true lover of the land and nature, she kept her bird and hummingbird feeders meticulously full, which stood in hilarious juxtaposition to her aggressive commitment to fending off Canadian geese from the shoreline with bottle rockets. Ardie also had a deep love for dogs; whether they were her own, her children's, or her grandchildren’s, she embraced each and every one.

Some of her most cherished memories were watching her granddaughters excel in academics, arts, and sports, never missing an event if she could help it. She traveled to nearly all of Katie’s home games and meets for the Golden Gophers (Basketball and Track & Field), and as many away games as she could.

She is survived by her three children, Debbie Benedict (Jim Raml), Mike Lien, and Lori Loberg (Tom); her two granddaughters, Lauryl Loberg and Katie Loberg (Kyle Sobash); her great-grandson, Arlo Sobash; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents and stillborn infant brother; her sisters, Mary Ann Anderson, Alice Liljeblad, and Yvonne Welch; her brother, Leroy “Chub” Haeg; and many dear cousins and friends, reunited at long last.

A possible “Ardie Party” on the shore will be announced at a later date. She will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling alongside her husband.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Ardie's entire home care team and the caregivers at North Shore Health. They truly brought so much light, comfort, and compassion to Ardie during the last two years of her life, following a stroke in April of 2024.