William R. Selstad

William Selstad Obituary

Dutton native and World War II veteran William R. Selstad, 91, of Great Falls, a lifelong Montana resident and farmer, died of natural causes Saturday in Great Falls.
Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home. Graveside services are 10 a.m. Wednesday in Highland Cemetery, followed by his funeral at 11 a.m. at Central Assembly of God Church. There will be a reception following the service at the church.
In his nine-decade life span Wil-liam saw travel progress from horses to Model T's to jet airplanes. Growing up on a homestead in Dutton, he saw farming progress from horse-drawn plows and threshing machines to modern tractors and combines. He always enjoyed the advances in technology that made life more pleasant.
William was born July 28, 1915, in Dutton, the second child of six to parents who had emigrated from Norway. Hard work was the way of life for all in the Selstad family on the homestead farm. After com-peting in all school athletics and graduating from high school, he moved to California to contribute to the war effort. He worked as a welder in the shipyards building Liberty Ships and as a merchant seaman in the Merchant Marines. After the war, he returned to his beloved home in Montana. He met and married Ruby Holmstrom in 1945 and they started their lives farming north of Great Falls. They had three daughters and worked hard to build up their farm.
After the passing away of Ruby in 1973, William married Phyllis Crane in 1982. He retired from farming and moved into Great Falls. They enjoyed traveling and a life much easier than that on the farm.
He touched many people with acts of kindness, generosity and friendship. He will be so missed as a husband, father, brother and friend.
William's remaining immediate family members include his wife, Phyllis; daughters Nadine Blyseth, Charlotte Lee and Lucille Kelly; a sister, Marie Anderson; and broth-ers Reuben and Tom.
He joins his parents, brother Joe and sister Alice, who rest in peace in Highland Cemetery.
William was an active member of the Central Assembly of God Church, the Sons of Norway and the Great Falls Senior Citizen Center.
Memorials are suggested to the Central Assembly of God Church or the Great Falls Senior Citizen's Center.
Condolences may be sent online to greatfallstribune.com/obituaries.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Great Falls Tribune on Sep. 4, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for William Selstad

8 Entries

Brian & Carol Lindskoog

September 17, 2006

I have nothing but fond memories of Uncle William and of Auntie Ruby. Visits from them were highlights for me as a young boy and our trips to Great Falls were such a treat. Their kindness and love shown to us was so genuine and will always be remembered. Our love and sympathy to each of you, Phyllis, Nadine, Charlotte, Lucille, and families.

Darrell Holmstrom

September 12, 2006

As I have been harvesting I have been thinking about Uncle William and family.It was great to spend some time with William this summer. We had a good talk about farming and Jesus, as always. He was so passionate about the forgiveness of the Lord and spoke of the thief on the cross.

I recall his visits to our farm. He had a way of seeing the usefullness of many items that others missed. He always found some relic to haul home and Dad always filled his gas tank. He loved Sonny Boy Cereal and always had to buy his supply. When we went to visit them it was the reverse, we took some hunk of iron or something home and he filled our gas tank! He was a special uncle and I remember him fondly.

Our condolences to Phyllis, and my cousins Nadine, Lucille, and Charlotte and families.

Orv and Sharon Lofdahl

September 11, 2006

Memories of Uncle Bill are special and will long be remembered. Uncles kindness and his interest in what we as individuals did meant a lot. We will always remember his love for his farm and the equipment that it took to farm it. It was so much fun just to sit and share his life and activites whenever we were able to be with him. We enjoyed the newspaper clippings he would send of equipment, farm sales and new inventions and what was happening in the Great Falls Area. I will always remember the summer I was able to work for him a couple of weeks. Four years later I was in the area with the truck and grain trailer and was able to do some hauling for him to the local grain terminal. He was always so kind and generous. Will miss you uncle but you are home with the Lord. Our sympathy is sent to all of you with our thoughts and love.

Doug Lindskoog

September 5, 2006

Darlene and I wish to first of all offer our sympathies to you, and also share the rejoicing that Uncle Bill is now with the Lord, and so many of his family that have gone before us.

As I was growing up I had several uncles from both Mom and Dad's sides of the family, but there was one I always thought of as my favorite. Uncle Bill was that uncle. He always seemed to have time to treat us special when ever we went to visit. Although I never saw him more than 6-8 times in my whole life, I remember each of those times as being special.

I remember "poking" around the big farm quonset shed that had so many "treasures" a young boy loves to see and be around. I remember climbing in and up the tall grain tanks on the farm. I was duly impressed by the size of the farm equipment and his "Cats" were the first ones I really saw on a farm and one of them was the first I ever pulled levers on and "drove". His 55' 'duck-foot' cultivator was beyond the imagination of a little prairie boy from Canada. I recall trips into Great Falls to hardware stores and machinery dealers and was amazed at what was available in "the States."

What is the most memorable, though was his big heart and gentle spirit. His big smile and distintive laugh is now filling Heaven, but also still here in the memory banks of 100's of people. That spirit was truly the spirit of Jesus and spoke volumes to not just his nephews and nieces and the rest of the family, but I'm sure half of Montana! The Godly heritage he has left will go on like the ripples on the ocean created by only one small pebble.

He came up to our wedding in Lethbridge back in 1968, and I recall more than once my "in-laws" speaking of him. They were struck in that just one meeting by his sincere friendliness and honest caring for people.

Heaven has been made richer as he was ushered in Saturday morning.

Also on behalf of Mom,we will not be able to attend the

memorial/celebration/funeral service because of many commitments and the distance involved, but we will think of you all and be praying for the strength you will need. for the day.

May God bless all of you as you grieve, yet rejoice and anticipate that day when we will have the greatest family reunion the Holmstrom's have ever, or will ever, have!

Love,

Doug and Darlene, Dagny Lindskoog

Allan Lindskoog

September 5, 2006

My memories of Uncle William actually go back to before I was born. At home we had a tape recording of a family reunion held at the Selstad's (sometime in the early 50's). Over the years, there were a number of family visits, always filled with laughter, good food, and generosity. I am blessed to be a part of a family with such a rich heritage of faith in God. My sympathies and love to all of the family.

Gordon Erickson

September 4, 2006

Gladys and I visited the Selstad farm on many occasions and on our honeymoon 53 years ago. These are memories we treasure. William(as we knew him)will be sadly missed.What a comfort to know we shall meet again!

Sel & Jan Larsen

September 4, 2006

It was such a great thing to share a meal with Uncle William and Phyllis three weeks ago. Who knew he would slip away so soon. We remembered the many fun times many years ago when our parents would take us to the Selstad's for wonderful vacations. Uncle William's generosity to my family will always be remembered. We look forward to the day when we'll all be together again in the presence of our Saviour. Our prayers and hugs are with each of you, Phyllis, Nadine, Sunny & Lucy.

Love,

Nadine and Gordon Blyseth

September 4, 2006

Thank you, Dad, for your many contributions to my life. Our loss is heaven's gain.

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