Ardel "Friday" Azeltine, 81, died at her home in Southern California on Jan. 5, 2010.
   A native Nebraskan, Ardel was born on July 6, 1928 to Greta (Rickerts) and Otto Freudenberg.  She graduated from Otoe schools and attended college in Nebraska before moving west to California.  Ardel spent 38 years working for the telephone company, where she was affectionately known as "Friday."
   In 1961, Ardel married Ray "Monte" Azeltine. Together they were successful real estate investors in California.  Life long animal lovers, the Azeltines were known to have as many as four dogs at a time.  They enjoyed vacationing in Kern Valley, especially at Lake Isabella, Calif.
   Ardel was widowed in 1992.  Upon her retirement she began to travel extensively and became a familiar face on the Queen Elizabeth II cruise ship.  Ardel loved to engage in conversations and easily made friends from around the world.
   In recent years, Ardel became a generous benefactor to many animal-related organizations, such as the University of California at Davis School of Veterinarian Medicine, to which she provided teaching equipment to help advance the field of diagnostic animal medicine. 
   True to her Nebraska farming roots, she also provided funding for a building expansion for the agricultural program at Kern Valley High School. 
   Ardel will be missed by her relatives and friends around the country.