Jean Ellen Selbo

Jean was born February 5, 1928, to William and Julia (Britt) Brazell in St. Paul, MN. Her family lived in Aberdeen, SD, before they moved to Fargo in 1938. She attended St. Anthony’s School and later graduated from Sacred Heart Academy (now Shanley). She attended the University of North Dakota where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority, graduating in 1949. She met Lyle Selbo while attending UND. He also graduated in 1949 with a law degree. They married at St. Joseph Church in Moorhead on August 20, 1949. Lyle was a partner with the Nilles, Hansen, Selbo, Magill & Davies Law Firm in Fargo.

Jean was a mother of five children, a homemaker, involved with Holy Spirit and St. Anthony’s Catholic Churches while in Fargo and Holy Rosary in Detroit Lakes, MN. She had her hands full raising their active and involved children. She loved her golf games and was a volunteer at many events, including the Pine to Palm in Detroit Lakes. Her hand-knitted “Red Sweater” trophy was a cherished prize for the Ladies Club event at the Detroit Country Club. She enjoyed reading and was always ready to be a part of a card game.

Jean and Lyle moved to Kerrville, TX following Lyle’s retirement in 1983, but returned to the area each summer, spending time at Lake Melissa in Detroit Lakes. She lost the love of her life too early when Lyle died in 1988.

She is survived by her five children, son, Greg (Pam) Selbo, Fargo; daughter, Jule (Mark Winkworth) Selbo, Pasadena, CA; son, Brian (Dawn) Selbo, Richardson, TX; daughter, Karen (Larry) Hunt, Coppell, TX and son, Steve (Stacy) Selbo, Bridgewater, VT; eleven grandchildren, Gabe (Sarena), Britt and Brock Selbo, Lilliana Winkworth, Michael (Shannon) Selbo, Ben (Aubrey) Selbo, Kyle and Bryce Hunt, and Chris, Jack and Greg Selbo; two great-grandchildren, Jonas and Ronan Selbo; sisters, Betty Hopp and Kathy Klontz. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle; her parents; twin sister, Nancy Gannon, and brother, Bill Brazell.

The family thanks the caring staff at Touchmark, especially the nurses and other caregivers of the Devonshire Memory Care Unit.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a small donation in memory of Lyle and Jean Selbo to the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties to support its new swimming pool project.

Jean's tribute video can be viewed at www.philpetersonproductions.com/hr-memorials.htm