Ardelle Thiel was born March 18, 1913 in Stewart Township to William Thiel and Elizabeth Uloth. She attended the Matteson School and later the Valley City schools from which she graduated in 1931.
Ardelle Thiel married Vernon Pottorff in Valley City on April 27, 1935. To this union four children were born, three sons and a daughter. Roger, Donald, Jack and Barbara (Mrs. David Bosanco). They lived on the Mike Naughton and E. T. James farm in Stewart Township for 3 years. In 1938 they moved to the farm where she was born. In 1944 they purchased the farm from The Bank of North Dakota, and lived there until Vernon's death on June 28, 1955. That fall she moved into Valley City with three of the children. Roger, who had married Carol Lynch, daughter of Clifford Lynchs' of Rogers, remained on the farm for two years. She then continued to rent the farm out until the fall of 1968 it was sold to John and Elizabeth Roehrich. While living on the farm the Pottorffs were active in all community affairs. Vernon worked with Stewart 4-H Club and Ardelle was school board clerk for many years. Vernon was buried in Woodbine Cemetery in Valley City.
Fall of 1957 Ardelle bought a home in Valley City where she still resides. In August of 1958 she gained employment with the State Highway Dept., and continued to work there until March of 1973. On February 10, 1963, Ardelle married Leonard Meyer of Marion, North Dakota. Leonard was also employed by the State Highway Dept. and they made their home in Valley City. Leonard passed away February 22, 1971 after a lingering illness. He is also buried' in Woodbine Cemetery in Valley City.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 157