William Selken Sr. (1863-1935)

SELKEN, SCHEEL, NUMSEN, MOHR, KRUTZFELDT, OTTO, PAULSEN, KOEPKE

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/8/2017 at 02:25:34

After an illness of about seven weeks duration William Selken, Sr., entered into rest on Saturday morning, November 13, at 6 o'clock.

Until bis recent illness Mr. Selken bad been blessed with unusually good health during all his life. For this reason his loved ones felt no great concern when he first became ill. An operation about five weeks ago brought him relief for the time being, but about three weeks ago a second operation became necessary which owing to his advanced age he could not survive. For the last week he had suffered intensely and death came as a welcome relief.

Mr. Selken was one of eight children born to the late Wm. Selken and his wife, Louise, nee Scheel. He was born at Davenport, Iowa, on August 16, 1863. Shortly thereafter his parents moved to a farm in Benton county where the boy was raised. He learned early to love the life of a farmer and followed it until he retired.

In 1884 he was married to Miss Martha Numsen at Keystone, Iowa. Two years later the young couple moved to Sioux county where they lived for sixteen years. They were thrifty, industrious, and honest and their labors were crowned with material success. In 1902 they moved to O'Brien county to a farm north of Hartley where they resided -until 1909 when they retired and moved to Hartley.

Their union was blessed with five children, all of whom grew up to become respected and law abiding citizens.

On the twenty-fourth of May 1923, Mr. Selken's faithful and devoted wife was taken from bis side.

Two years later, in June, 1925, he was married to Mrs. Christine Mohr of Remsen, Ia., who spared no effort to make his declining years happy and comfortable.

Mr. Selken attained the age of 72 years, 3 months, and 14 days. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Christine Selken; one daughter, Henrietta, Mrs. Ernest Krutzfeldt; three sons, John, Carl, and William H. Jr., all of Hartley.

One daughter, Mrs. Richard Otto, preceded him in death, as well as three brothers, Henry, 7 years ago, Louis, 2 years ago, and Emil just 3 months ago.

Two sisters, Mrs. Clara Paulsen of Van Horn, la., and Mrs. Claus Koepke of Keystone, Iowa and one brother, Theodore at Minot, N. D., survive him. Mr. Selken's departure is also mourned by his six grand­children and 3 great-grandchildren, two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, one brother-in-law and a number of more distant relatives and many friends.

He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and regular contributor to Trinity church.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, December 2, at one o'clock at the house and one-thirty at the M. E. cnurcn. Rev. F. W. Budy officiated. The mixed quartet of the Trinity Evangelical church sang several songs. Interment was in Pleasant View cemetery.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, Dec 5, 1935, p1