Leon H. Sell

Leon Harlan Sell was born April 7, 1937 to Harley and Hilda Johnson Sell in Amenia, ND. He grew up on the farm and attended school in Amenia, ND. After graduating in 1955, he joined the U.S. Navy and served until 1957. Leon worked for Schultz & Lindsey Construction until 1958, and then began working for International Harvester. On June 20, 1958, he married Judy Thorson in Moorhead, MN. In 1960 he began working for North Star Dairy and MidAmerica Dairy as a route salesman for 10 years. While working as a milkman, he began working part time as a Real Estate salesman for Wagner Realty in Moorhead, which became his full time career in 1968. He became part owner of the company in 1977. By 1982 he became the sole owner of Wagner Realty. His 35 years in the Real Estate business produced many awards and achievements. In 1997 he sold his office at the Moorhead Center Mall. He worked at ReMax realty for a short time, and then went to Kvamme Real Estate where he was licensed until a tragic misfortune resulted in him becoming paralyzed, confined to a wheelchair and a resident of Eventide Nursing Home. Because of that, he retired in April of 2003. He moved back home in March of 2007 with the compassionate and excellent care provided by nurses coming in a few hours each day. Judy was also able to care for him with the help of their children and grandsons when needed. He thoroughly enjoyed being home and loved the independence of having a handicap van that he could drive with hand controls. The summer of 2007 was a time for weekends at the lake with family and a nurse to help with his needs. Life was as good as it was going to get, considering his paraplegic condition. The second tragic incident happened on August 30, 2007. Leon was rear-ended when he was stopped at a stop light in Detroit Lakes and was critically injured. He had been hospitalized since that time.Leon and Judy also own and manage Ju-Lee Apts & Investments. They had enjoyed traveling. Their trips had included visits to Italy, for the birth of their first grandson. Travels also included Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico and Caribbean cruises, along with their annual trips to Las Vegas. Wonderful memories were made on each of these trips. Leon and Judy loved entertaining at their Moorhead and lake homes with friends, relatives and Wagner Realty Office parties. Some of Leon's happiest times were spent at their lake home on Middle Cormorant Lake that they have enjoyed since 1973. He loved country music, dancing, traveling, playing cards and watching football. In his earlier years he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of the American Legion, Eagles Club and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. He was also a former member of Fargo-Moorhead Board of Realtors, FM Homebuilders Assn and Moorhead Chamber of Commerce.Survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years, Judy; daughter, Kimberlee Toll of Moorhead; sons, Marty Sell of Minneapolis and Mickey Andrea Sell of Moorhead. He sadly leaves three grandsons, Alex Toll, Taylor and Tory Sell, all of Moorhead. He also leaves his mother, Hilda Sell of Amenia, ND; sister, Donna Schultz of Fargo, and her two daughters, Brenda Steve and Dylan Pratt and Laura Reilly, all of Minneapolis, and many uncles, aunts and cousins.His father, Harley Sell preceded him in death in 1994.The family would like to give a special thanks to all of the doctors and nurses for the wonderful care over the past five years.