Norma Jean Sellner, age 84 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, died on October 9, 2023, at her home. Visitation will be on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel. A Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 pm. The clergy will be Fr. Mark Steffl. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Norma Jean (Hale) Sellner was born on January 13, 1939, to William H. Hale Sr. and Florence E. (Kuelbs) Hale of Franklin, Minnesota. They moved to Sleepy when she was young, and Norma Jean graduated from Sleepy Eye Public School. She married Jerome R. Sellner, and they were blessed with their daughter, Tamera. Years later they divorced. Norma Jean worked at the Sleepy Eye Dairy Queen and later began working at Sleepy Eye Care Center as a dietary aide, a job she held for 37 years. She took great pride in the quality of her work and taught others to do the same. She retired when she was in her 70s.
Norma Jean loved going for car rides and sitting out by the lake in the summer watching all the activity the lake attracts. She also loved shopping, watching TV, feeding the birds, doing yard work, and eating at restaurants. She looked forward to planting a few flowers each spring at her home she shared with her cat Shilo. Norma Jean cherished her family and friends, thoroughly enjoying their visits and phone conversations. She was a great mom, grandma, and great-grandma and will be greatly missed.
Norma Jean is survived by her daughter, Tamera Jean Sellner of Sleepy Eye; grandchild, Brandon (Kasie) Sellner of Statham, Georgia; great-grandchildren, Jolee and Jaden Ingram and Everleigh Sellner; many nieces and nephews; and other loving relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Eldora Dittbenner, Ruth Schmidt, Irene Current, and Shirley Birkeland; brother, William Hale, Jr; brothers-in-law, Armin Dittbenner, Lawrence Schmidt, Douglas Current, and Roger Birkeland; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Hale.