Selma J. Nelson, 96, of Ottawa died peacefully at home on May 11, 2016. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, in Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor David Ufkes, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, and one hour prior to the services at the church on Tuesday.
Selma Josephine was born on June 16, 1919 in LaVern, Iowa, the first child of John and Johane Lindanger Nelson Friestad. They moved to Ottawa in 1932. Selma attended Pleasant View Luther High School for two years, then graduated from Ottawa High School. She attended Northern Illinois University to study education. She married Nelford “Bud” Nelson on September 5, 1942. They farmed in Utica. Selma began teaching at Rutland School District in 1963, later transferring to Troy Grove, and finished her teaching career at Wallace School, retiring in 1984. Selma loved to read, do crossword puzzles, and answer the geography question from The Chicago Tribune, until her eyes failed. She was an avid gardener and even more avid Cubs fan. She had an inquisitive mind that was sharp until her death.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sisters Alma, Verna, Sylvia, and brothers John, and Dick.
She is survived by her children Sonja (Stuart) Bechler of Elgin and Douglas (Janet) Nelson of Champaign. Her beloved granddaughters Shelley (Brad) Hurst of Waukee, Iowa, Stefanie (Brett) Olson of Lake Zurich, and Natalie (Tony) Monterastelli of Chicago and her sweet great granddaughters Mira Monterastelli and Annika Olson. Also surviving are sister Vina Rowe of Ottawa, brothers Edwin Friestad, of DeKalb, Russell Friestad,of Indio, CA, and Leroy (Norma) Friestad, of Leeds, AL, many nieces and nephews, special neighbors, Kathy and Spider Purcell, and friends from teaching and church. Selma was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for 84 years and a member of the LaSalle County Retired Teachers Association, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, and the LaSalle County Historical Society.
Pallbearers will be Gary Carlson, Brad Hurst, Mark Kuhlman, Tony Monterastelli, Brett Olson, and Larry Rowe.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund, 717 Chambers Street, Ottawa, IL 61350, the LaSalle County Historical Society, PO Box 278, Utica, IL 61373, the Reddick Library,1010 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL 61350, or to the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (Scholarship Fund), 828 S. Second, 4th floor, Springfield, IL 62704.
Selma has been laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.
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