Ardith “Ardy” Ruth Neal, age 91, of St. Paul, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 13, 2026, with her granddaughter Rasheen by her side.

Ardy was born May 11, 1934, in Alpha, Minnesota, to Arthur Karnatz and Elinor (Miller) Karnatz. She attended grade school in Trimont, Minnesota, graduated from Verndale High School in 1953, and later attended Mankato State College.

Ardy was married three times. She was first married to Joe Strickzik, with whom she had her first daughter, Vicky Lynn. Joe passed away in 1956. Shortly after his passing, Ardy moved to St. Paul, where she began building a life and career in the city she would call home.

Ardy spent much of her life working in the St. Paul restaurant community. She began what would become a long and meaningful career as a server at the Covered Wagon. She later worked at two well-known St. Paul establishments, The Blue Horse and The St. Paul Hotel, where she spent 28 and 19 years respectively. Through her many years in the industry, Ardy built lasting friendships and touched the lives of countless people she served.

In 1958, Ardy married Charles Shelton. Together they had two children, Loraine Rae and Charles Shelton Jr. Their son, Charles Jr., passed away in 1962, and Charles Sr. passed away in 1968.

In January of 1973, Ardy married Reuben Neal. Together they built a life in St. Paul and lovingly raised two of Ardy’s grandchildren, Rasheen Tillman and Anthony Shelton, from a young age. Ardy and Reuben shared 41 years of marriage until his passing in 2014.

In 1988, Ardy experienced the unimaginable loss of her daughter, Vicky Lynn Shelton, who was murdered on September 6 of that year. In the years that followed, Ardy became deeply involved with Parents of Murdered Children (POMC), a support organization that became an important part of her life. Through the group, she found strength, community, and the opportunity to support other families navigating similar grief.

Family was always at the center of Ardy’s life. She is survived by her daughter, Loraine Shelton; and her grandchildren: Rasheen Tillman, Danielle Sivels, Anthony Shelton and Justin Shelton; as well as several beloved great-grandchildren.

In her later years, Ardy lived at Sister Annette at Episcopal Church Home, where she had been a resident since 2019 when she could no longer care for herself. There, she formed many friendships and was cared for by a compassionate community of caregivers and staff who became like family to her. She especially cherished the friendship of her best friend, Joann. At Sister Annette, Ardy spent her days making art, playing bingo, singing songs, and enjoying the community she proudly called home.

Ardy will be remembered for her resilience, her devotion to family, and the unwavering love she showed to those she raised and cared for. Despite experiencing profound loss throughout her life, she continued to show strength, compassion, and generosity toward others. She will be deeply missed and remembered with love by her family, her many friends, and all whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 12, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ardy’s ashes, along with those of her late husband Reuben, will be laid to rest at Elmhurst Cemetery in St. Paul on Friday, March 13, at 12:00 p.m. A celebration of life luncheon will follow from approximately 1:00–3:00 p.m. at Gabe’s by the Park in St. Paul.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the family to help support them during this difficult time.