Philip J. Seljevold

Philip James Seljevold, longtime resident Moorhead, passed away Saturday January 8th surrounded by family and friends. Phil was born to Lars and Josephine Seljevold in Florence, MN on January 10, 1927. He spent his childhood years in Belview and Averill, MN, moving to Moorhead when he entered the 8th grade. Immediately upon graduating from Moorhead High School in 1945, Phil entered the United States Army. He served his country while stationed in Berlin, Germany. Upon fulfilling his military duty he returned home and enrolled at Concordia College, graduating in 1950. While a student at Concordia, Phil married the love of his life Adeline Bekkerus. They were married in 1949. They enjoyed 59 years of loving partnership until Adeline's death in 2008. Phil's sense of fair play, sportsmanship, honesty, integrity and hard work were developed from a deep religious conviction and a career devoted to interscholastic athletics. His teaching career began in Dilworth, MN. In 1958 he moved to the Moorhead Public Schools where he taught elementary physical education and coached at the high school for ten years. In 1968 he was appointed to serve as the Athletic Director at Moorhead High School. He served in this role until his retirement in 1989. His leadership in Minnesota Interscholastic Athletics was recognized across the state. During his career he was: four times honored as the Region 8AA Athletic Director of the Year; inducted into the Minnesota Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1996; and, selected to join the Moorhead High School Hall of Honor in 2008.Phil was intensely community minded and a wonderful ambassador for Moorhead. He served as past president of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Vikingland Kiwanis, Moorhead Athletic Association, Concordia Alumni Letterwinner's Club, Chairperson of the Moorhead Stadium Committee, and Moorhead High All School Reunion. He also served on the Eventide Board of Directors and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. Phil was a man of strong unquestioned faith. At the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd he was a regular at Bible studies and served as member of his church's Helping Hands service group. In is retirement years, he even found time to be a regular member of the church landscape crew—he mowed the lawn. Phil epitomized a "life well lived" and was a wonderful example for his family of integrity, love, respect and strength. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, wife Adeline, infant son Thomas, Grandson Travis Rosenfeldt, sister Lillian Knutson and nephew Patrick Huber. He is survived by his children, daughter Nancy Doug Hastad of Waukesha WI and their children Jacob and Rebekah, daughter Julie Dan Rosenfeldt of Moorhead MN and their children Kari Joe Stattelman great grandchildren Haley, Shayla and Josie, Steve Jade Rosenfeldt great grandson Weston, Rachael Tyler Spriggs and Katie, son Larry Karen Seljevold of Moorhead, MN and their children Lars and Maren, son Peter Lisa Seljevold of Moorhead, MN and their children Kylee, Greta and Emmy. Also survived by his sisters Helen Seim, Moorhead, MN, and Elsie Gene Huber, Moorhead, MN; In-laws Helen Peterson, Rosie Bekkerus, John and Margaret Harkness, and Russel and Lois Bekkerus; numerous nieces and nephews.