Catherine M. Sellner

Catherine was born July 11, 1924, to Charles and Rose (Hillesheim) Wiltscheck in Home Township. She first attended country school District 17 and then St. Mary's Catholic High School, graduating valedictorian in 1942. As a young woman, she worked at the State Bank and had the honor of serving as the first Miss Sleepy Eye. She married Philip Sellner on May 26, 1948. For 46 years they worked alongside each other farming north of Sleepy Eye in Home and Eden Townships before moving to town in 1994. Catherine and Philip were blessed with 12 children. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, doing crossword puzzles, embroidering, playing board and card games, reading mystery stories, and spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was a life-long member of St. Mary's Parish, active as a member of the CCW and Christian Mothers and serving on the liturgy committee and as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Catherine was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and mentor-an exceptional woman of quiet strength. She is survived by her children, Kathleen (Chuck) Hansen-Lamb of Avoca, AR, Rose Marie (Tom) Schaefer of Madelia, Philip Sellner, Joseph Sellner, Mary Beth (Chuck) Botz, Michael Sellner all of Sleepy Eye, Bernadette (Bernard) Windschitl of Houston, MN, Anita (Glenn) Jensen of Springfield, Frances (Mark) Gores of Clements, and Donna (Tony) Steward of Sioux City, IA; 12 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and her sister, Marie Tauer. She is preceded in death by her husband, Philip; two infant daughters, Patricia and Dorothea; grandson, Adam Jensen; two sons-in-law, Ron Hansen and Kelly Schroeder; 5 sisters, two sisters-in-law, and 7 brothers-in-law. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Visitation 2 7:30 am - 10:00 am Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Service Information 10:30 am Wednesday, November 25, 2015 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Interment Information St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery 720 3rd Ave. N.E. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Parish Prayer Service Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Luncheon Luncheon to follow interment at St. Mary's Social Room.