Selma Lena Wiens

Selma Lena Wiens was born to Peter W. and Lena Ediger Wiens on November 19, 1921 near Bingham Lake, Minnesota. She moved with her family to rural Hampton, Nebraska when she was three weeks old. Her father passed away in 1925 of complications of the flu. A week prior to his death her 10 - day old baby brother, Herman, died of pneumonia. Selma's mother then raised her, and her three brothers, as a single parent. Selma attended a rural school in grades one through eight and high school at Henderson, Nebraska, graduating in 1939. She moved back to Minnesota, near Delft, right after graduation. Selma worked as a household helper for different farm families in the area and temporarily in the kitchen of the Bethel Hospital in Mountain Lake. In 1945 Selma went to California to work as a maid and housekeeper in a private home in Dinuba. She returned to Minnesota in 1947. Selma enrolled at Mankato State Teacher's College in the Fall of 1947. She received her 2 year certificate in 1949 and taught in rural schools at Gibbon and Mountain Lake. Working toward her B.S. degree during summers and through off-campus night classes, she received her B.S. degree in 1958. Selma later took some post-graduate classes offered in the area and at Mankato State College. She taught first grade in the Windom Public Schools for 32 years, retiring in 1984. Selma accepted Christ as her Savior at age 13 and was baptized at age 17, joining the Carson MB Church near Delft. Later she joined the MB church in Mountain Lake, now known as Community Bible Church. Selma was an active church member, involved in choir, King's Daughter's, Awana, and the Food Committee. Selma enjoyed traveling, making numerous trips to California. She went to the World's Fair in New York in 1965 and to Nova Scotia in 1978. Many trips were made to Nebraska, some to Oklahoma, and one to Saskatchewan, Canada. Selma enjoyed going to the Mennonite Brethren Church Conferences. After retirement, she attended the Central District Conferences and also the U.S. General Conference in Reedley, California. Selma loved to work as a volunteer at Care and Share in Mountain Lake. She was on the Laker Apartment board for 20 years and also worked with the Minn-Kota Auction in Sioux Falls for many years. She was a part of the Mountain Lake centennial celebration serving on the book committee that put together 100 years of history from 1886-1986. In 1950 Selma and her mother moved to a new home on Mountain Lake Road, built by her brother, Duke. They lived there together for many years. In 2005 Selma moved from her home to assisted living at the Eventide Home in Mountain Lake. In recent years, when the Eventide Home closed, she moved to The Lodge of Mountain Lake. Selma transferred to the Good Samaritan Village this past June, where she lived until her death on December 8, 2017. Selma was a very special person to many, including her mother, siblings, students, friends and neighbors. But among her closest relationships were the ones between Selma and her nieces and nephews, and later with the great-nieces and great-nephews, who called her "Grantie Selma". Because Selma loved and valued children, actively investing in their lives, children were drawn to her. She had a powerful influence in the lives of many. She will be greatly missed! Selma is survived by nieces and nephews- Darla (Mike) Jackson, DeVon (Lynette) Wiens, Dawn Alfaro, Lynette Wiens, Charie (Mike) Wall, Gwen Wiens, Chuck Wiens, Twyla Wiens, Rhonda Wiens, and Curt (Cindy) Wiens; and sister-in-law Burdine Wiens. She was preceded in death by her parents Peter W. and Lena (Ediger) Wiens; brothers- Leander, Waldo, and Alvin 'Duke'; and sisters-in-law- Helen and Rachel Wiens. Visitation 1 10:00 am - 11:00 am Saturday, December 16, 2017 Community Bible Church-Mt Lake 500 Klein St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 11:00 am Saturday, December 16, 2017 Community Bible Church-Mt Lake 500 Klein St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information Carson Mennonite Brethren Cemetery North side of 350th St, East of 520th Ave Rural Delft, Minnesota, United States 56159 Luncheon Luncheon to immediately follow services at the church.