Helen Jeanette Seim

Helen Jeanette (Seljevold) Seim, 98, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, in Sheyenne Crossings, West Fargo, ND.

Helen was born to Lars and Josephine (Hegdahl) Seljevold in Belview, MN, on November 11, 1921.  Helen grew up in Tyler, Florence, and Averill, MN, and graduated from high school in Felton, MN, in 1939.  The family moved to Moorhead, MN, in 1940.  Helen graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College (now Minnesota State University, Moorhead) in 1941 with an Elementary Education Degree.  She taught elementary education in Forman, ND, rural Frazee, Marble, and Hawley, MN.

On June 16, 1946, Helen married Norman R. Seim at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.  They made their home in Fargo, ND, where Helen substitute taught until the family moved to Columbia Heights, MN, in 1957.  She continued substitute teaching there and even after the family returned to Moorhead in 1961.  Helen also taught at the Red River Day Care Center in Fargo, where she enjoyed working with handicapped children.  In 1964, she was hired by the Moorhead School District as a paraprofessional in the libraries of Moorhead Junior and Senior Highs and several Moorhead elementary schools until her retirement in 1984.  Since 2009, Helen has resided in the Eventide Senior Living Centers in Moorhead and West Fargo, ND.

Helen and Norm enjoyed their summers at their lake home near Vergas, MN, and some winter months in Texas.  Helen was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She also enjoyed traveling, her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, reading, crafts, flowers, and cookie baking, especially for her grandchildren.  Her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies were a requested favorite. Helen was a member and volunteer at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, North Dakota State University Women’s Club, Homemaker’s Club, and participated in women’s Bible Studies.

Helen is survived by three sons and a daughter, Richard (Linda) Seim, Ronald (Susan) Seim, Robert (Mavis) Seim, and Barbara (Gregg) Morlock; 11 grandchildren, Graydon (Karen Hernandez) Seim, Laura Jo (Jeremy) Brown, Anton (Crystal) Seim, Sarah Kay (Brian) Jensen, Danielle (Derek) Heyerdahl, Lindsay (Jimmy) Millard, Nathan Seim, Tyrel (Lindsay) Seim, Angela (Ethan) Formo, Grant (Megan) Morlock, and Quinn (Tyler) Johnson; 20 great-grandchildren, Ellie Jo and Dalton Brown; Faroe Seim; Sarah, Emily, and Kannon Jensen; Loden and Elise Heyerdahl; Violet Millard; Grace, Elijah, and Lincoln Seim; Emmett, Colin, and Tilly Formo; Kai and Kieran Morlock; and Sloane, Cooper, and Griffin Johnson; sister and brother-in-law, Elsie (Eugene) Huber; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Norman in 2005; parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Lillian (John) Knutson; a brother and sister-in-law, Philip (Adeline) Seljevold; and nephews, Patrick Huber and Thomas Seljevold.

Memorials may be sent to either the Hospice of the Red River Valley or the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN.

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM, Friday, March 6, 2020, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN.  Burial will take place at the south Grove Lake Cemetery, rural Pelican Rapids, MN, in the spring.