Mary Ann Selken

Mary Ann Selken, age 76 of Larchwood, IA died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010 at the Fellowship Village Nursing Home in Inwood, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, Oct. 4th at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, IA, with Father Jeff Schleisman and Deacon Jeff Gallagher officiating. Burial will follow at the Larchwood Cemetery in Larchwood, IA. Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 3rd from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. There will be a Vigil service held at 7:00 PM Sunday evening at the church. Mary Ann Selken was born January 14, 1934 in rural Lyon County Iowa to Joseph and Gladys (Kramer) Ripperda. She received her education at a rural Alvord Country School and graduated from the Rock Valley High School with the class of 1952. On June 23, 1956 she was united in marriage to Carl Selken at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alvord, IA. The couple made their home in Larchwood where they raised their family of ten children. Mary Ann worked at the Sioux Falls, Stock Yards as a bookkeeper, Sioux Valley Hospital and 21 years at the West Lyon School where she worked as a cook. She was a member of the Church of St. Marys in Larchwood, the Altar Society, the Catholic Daughters of Rock Valley, and the Larchwood Legion Auxiliary. Her faith, family and friends were the most important elements of her life. Mary Ann had a special place in her heart for children and enjoyed so much spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Some of her favorite times were attending family get togethers and birthday parties. Her family will remember her as a person with much patience, a good sense of humor and a wonderful cook. This past Thursday, Mary Ann passed away at the age of 76. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Carl Selken; son, Tim (Bonnie) Selken of Sioux City, IA; daughter, Julie (Dave) Moes of Sioux Falls, SD; son-in-law, Dan Johnson of Beresford, SD; daughter, Kay Billam of Sioux Falls, SD; son Mike (Stacey) Selken of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Scott (Karen) Selken of Oakland, NE; son, Tom (Charlene) Selken of Fort Collins, CO; daughter, Susan (Jeremy) Jensen of Cherokee, IA; daughter, Amy (Terrin) Haggerty of Sioux Falls, SD; 23 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Francis (Jamie) Ripperda of Austin, TX; sister, Madonna Plueger of Rock Valley, IA; brother, George Ripperda of Rock Valley, IA; and brother, Dan (Karen) Ripperda of Sioux Falls, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Gladys (Kramer) Ripperda; son, Dennis Selken; daughter, Patricia Johnson; daughter-in-law, Arlene Selken; brother, Larry Ripperda; infant brother, David Ripperda and brother-in-law, Donald Plueger.