Selma Irine (Anderson) Ellingson , 104, East Grand Forks, MN, died on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, MN.

Selma was born to Almer & Nellie (Engeland) Anderson on October 2, 1917, in Erskine, Minnesota. She was the oldest of six children. Her family spoke Norwegian while attending to the daily needs of farm life. She began learning English when she attended a rural school near the farm in Badger Township. She and her sisters and brother walked to and from school in the warm seasons and cross country skied the distance in winter. Selma was baptized and confirmed in Norwegian at Saron Lutheran Church, north of Erskine.

When Selma was young, she went to work for the Ellingson family in Nielsville, MN. It was there that she met her future husband, Anton Ellingson. Selma & Anton were married June 26, 1943. Selma & Anton lived and farmed the Ellingson farm just east of Nielsville. Here, Selma spent her life helping on the farm and running the household. In those days there were a lot of chores that included cooking many meals for hired men during the harvest season, gardening and canning, and many other typical farm wife activities. She and Anton worked side by side over the years on their farm. Anton died October 31, 1961. Selma continued to manage and live on the farm until she moved to Grand Forks, ND, when she was in her mid-80s. Selma purchased a home on Chestnut Street and lived there until she was 97 years old. Selma then moved to Good Samaritan Senior Living where she resided until May 11 of 2022. Due to an illness, she moved briefly to Fair Meadow Nursing in Fertile, MN, at age 104.

Selma's hobby and love was her outstanding flower gardens. She was an active member of the Nielsville and Shelly Garden Club where she received many blue ribbons, Sweepstakes ribbons, and Grand Champion ribbons for her flowers and for her flower arranging. Her yard in Nielsville was an absolute showcase. Selma continued with her gardening upon moving to her home in Grand Forks; her yard was a beautiful place to be. Selma enjoyed many hours outside in her yard over the years. She shared plants and gardening knowledge with family and many of them have Selma's flowers in their gardens today. Any time she visited she always wanted a tour of the vegetable and flower gardens. We always hoped we didn't have too many weeds!

Selma was a long-time member of St. Petri Lutheran Church in Nielsville. She was a member of the Ladies Aid and active in other church activities and cared for the church yard. When she moved to Grand Forks, she joined the Sharon Lutheran Church and continued to be an active member there. She enjoyed crocheting and embroidery and fishing. Selma was a wonderful baker and always had goodies to serve when you visited her home. Thanksgiving and Christmas were always Selma's time to shine with her Norwegian specialties. We enjoyed Rosettes, Fattigmann, Sandbakkels, Krumkake, and many other ethnic treats. No one could bake lefsa and flat bread like Selma! Everyone just waited for the family celebrations to get a taste, which she so willingly shared.

Even though Selma did not have children of her own, she was a proud and caring aunt to her nieces & nephews. She kept on top of their activities and their families over the years and was deeply loved by them all. Selma is survived by her brother, Albert Anderson of Erskine MN; four nieces: Yvonne (Daryl) Halvorson of Erskine MN, Mary (Bart) Anderson, Regina Sask, Vangie (Herb) Parker of West Fargo ND, and Lori (Danny) Olson of Minot ND; four nephews: Les (Deb) Johnson of Grand Forks ND, Dale (Jody) Hanson of Fergus Falls MN, David (Sheryl) Aaker of Seattle WA and Merlyn Werner of Grand Forks ND; and several grand-nieces & nephews. Selma was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her father & mother-in-law, four sisters, five brothers-in-law, and four sisters-in-law.

Funeral Service is 1:00PM on Friday, July 1, 2022 at Dahl Funeral Home, 2029 Central Avenue NW, East Grand Forks, MN. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Interment to follow at Saron Lutheran Cemetery in Erskine, MN.

Funeral Service will be live-streamed at www.dandahlfuneralhome.com .