Elsie May Bardo

Elsie May Bardo

Mrs. Elsie Bardo, 97, died Sunday morning at the Niobrara County Nursing Home in Lusk. She had lived 47 years in Lander and the last 17 in Lusk.

The funeral was held Tuesday at 2 o'clock at the Lusk Congregational Church with the Rev. Frank Blish officiating. Peet Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Gerald Bardo was organist. In celebration of the life of Mrs. Bardo, the congregation sang two hymns, "Be Still My Soul" and "0 Master, Let Me Walk With Thee." Pallbearers were Lee Johnsonbaugh, James Wilson, Reg Bafford, Maynard Clark, Walter Fernau, and Merle Hahn. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Elsie May Blue was born Dec 10, 1881, to John Marine and Esther Bentz Blue, in Benton County, Iowa. She lived on the home farm near Van Horn until she was married. She attended one year at Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, after which she taught county school.

She married Earl Bardo Sept. 20, 1905. They lived in Vinton, Iowa, where Mr. Bardo was deputy county clerk. They then lived on a farm near Platte, S.D., and for two or three years in Kalispell. Mont. In 1915 they moved to Lander for Mrs. Bardo's health.

Mr. Bardo died in 1919, of typhoid fever. Mrs. Bardo was left to raise their two sons, Gerald and Dale. She did baking and door-to-door selling of cosmetics, dress goods and other lines. She didn't have a car but used a little cart to make her deliveries over the entire town. She also took in boarders and roomers. That was before various forms of governmental assistance were initiated.

At Lander, Mrs. Bardo was closely associated with the Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, member of the official board for many years, and member of the Ladies Aid. When she moved to Lusk in 1962 to be near her sons, she joined the Congregational Church and the Congregational Circle. At Lander she was a member of the Order of Eastern Star.

On her 80th birthday Mrs. Bardo was honored at a celebration at the Lander Methodist Church, the event being hosted by her sons and their wives. On her 90th birthday Mrs. Bardo was honored similarly in Lusk.

She is survived by her sons, Gerald and Dale M. of Lusk; four grandchildren: Lucy Bardo Harms, of New York City; Dale D. Bardo, of Wilton, Me.; Susan Bardo Hilbert, of Porterville, Calif.; Richard D. Bardo, Adelphia, Md; and five great-grandchildren.

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