Ardell Joan (Waxlax) Markitans, 89, of Hermantown, MN, passed away on March 7, 2025 at her home in The Pillars of Hermantown. Ardell was born in Two Harbors, MN on October 20, 1935 to Ebba (Bergren) and Rudolph Waxlax. She went to Beaver Bay School (now the Green Door Liquor Store) through eighth grade and then boarded with family and a friend in order to graduate from Two Harbors High School in 1953, where she gained the nickname, "Waxie". She only came home on weekends during that time. Ardell went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1957. Ardell was blessed with uncanny good luck and often found herself at the right place at the right time and even won $10,000 in the lottery- but her greatest lucky moment was deciding to go on a blind date with Ansis "Joe" Markitans. She met him at the door with a big smile and a beer in her hand and said, "Hi! Here's a drink for you!". Joe was immediately smitten and asked her to marry him a few weeks later. They were married on April 20, 1968, only 4 months after they shared that first beer together - and no, she was not pregnant! In almost 57 years of marriage Ardell and Joe have lived in Minnesota, California, Colorado, New Hampshire and Arizona. Their life together was enriched by friends and family and they traveled to all 50 states and only missed sleeping in 3 states. They explored the world, visiting most of the countries in Europe and Central America and in addition to English, Ardell was fluent in French, Swedish and Pig Latin! Ardell suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and stroke in 1986 and Joe was her constant companion, cheerleader and drill sargent. Ardell pushed herself to recover and Joe was by her side, literally every step of the way as she relearned how to walk, write and talk. She exceeded the expectations of doctors again and again. Ardell still wanted to see the world and she and Joe kept traveling after her stroke and went on 13 cruises comprising of 197 days aboard ships. Ardell grew up working in the family business, Lax Lake Resort. She prepared cabins for guests, sold ice cream and pop in the store, bailed out boats, mowed the lawn in her bathing suit and did whatever needed to be done at the resort. As a coming of age expectation she swam across Lax Lake when she was 15 years old. When water skiing became popular she also joined her siblings in putting on a show for resort guests every Sunday in the summer. After college she began teaching in Duluth and was well-loved by her third graders. Ardell was always up for an adventure and before long she found herself packing her bags for a 3-year-long teaching engagement for the US Army Dependent Schools in France. During that time she spent Christmases with relatives in Sweden and learned the traditions of her heritage. She continued teaching third grade when she returned to Minnesota at the Mary MacDonald Elementary School in Silver Bay, several schools in Duluth and later in Fridley. She and Joe moved to California and Ardell worked as a bookkeeper for a computer design company in the area now known as Silicon Valley. The next move was to Colorado where she worked as a recruiter for an employment agency. In New Hampshire Ardell found her passion for real estate and excelled at finding just the right home for her clients. She was recognized as the top selling realtor multiple years in a row. Ardell and Joe retired in Surprise, AZ where they enjoyed the warm weather and made many friends. Ardell always wanted to move back to Minnesota and Joe agreed that it was time to be closer to family, so they settled into the welcoming community at the Pillars of Hermantown where they gained an unexpected chosen family. Ardell was creative and made beautiful handmade needlework pieces. She could sew, knit, crochet, needlepoint and cross-stitch, and even made her own wedding gown. In later years she added machine embroidery to her repertoire. Ardell also created beautiful gardens and devoted hours to gardening. She love gnomes and all things Swedish, passing on this love of family history to her nieces and nephews. Her KitchenAid mixer got a regular workout as she baked cookies and homemade bread, and replicated Latvian recipes with Joe, passed on from his grandmother. The Christmas season was nonstop baking and entertaining. Their home was immaculate and filled with beautiful things made by Ardell and collected in her travels with Joe. Every item in their home had a story. She was an avid reader and beautiful writer and in spite of her medical challenges she wrote two books with Joe, Waxlax Descendants: Stories and Pictures and Tommy the Deer. Ardell is survived by her loving husband, Ansis Markitans; siblings, Arlene Sonday, Lorne Waxlax, Linda (John) Audritsh, and Mabel (Jim) Tarlton; along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and even great-greats! A memorial service will be planned for a later date when the temperatures in Minnesota are more inviting. In lieu of flowers the family would be honored if a donation in memory of Ardell was made to an organization of your choice.