Janice Sellman

Janice “Jan” Sellman, age 84, of Montevideo, Minnesota (formerly of Arlington, Minnesota) passed away peacefully and entered heaven on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at the Clara City Care Center. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM at Salem Lutheran Church in Montevideo with visitation from 12:00-1:30 PM. Interment will be at a later date in Slayton, Minnesota.

Janice Adella Lange was born August 26, 1940 in Avoca, Minnesota to Henry “Heinie” and Verna (Lundeen) Lange. She was the youngest of 5 children and grew up on the family farms by Avoca and Slayton, Minnesota. Jan was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She started her education at the country school and graduated from Slayton High School.

On April 26, 1958 Jan married Milton “Mick” Sellman at Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. One week later, Mick reported for basic training in the US Army and then was shipped out to Korea for one year. During this time, Jan continued to live with her parents in Slayton. She then joined Mick in September 1959 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as he completed his enlistment. After his discharge, Mick’s work took them many different locations. This included Slayton and Pipestone, where their two daughters were born. Eventually they settled in Arlington, Minnesota for 20 plus years. After they sold their business, they spent a short time traveling the central and south United States in their fifth wheel RV. In 1996 they moved to Montevideo to be between their daughters in Minnesota and South Dakota.

Jan worked as and was an incredibly talented seamstress. She sewed numerous things, clothes, wedding dresses and veils, bridesmaids’ dresses, home décor, drapes/curtains/valances and any kind of alternations people would ask for. This work allowed her to stay home and raise her daughters. Jan was a perfectionist when it came to her sewing, spending hours to make sure everything was “just right”. There wasn’t anything she could not sew, fix or make from scratch. Her family will always treasure her beautiful hand-made gifts and the special cross-stitches she did. In Montevideo Jan also worked as a school lunch lady at the high school, this job allowed her to babysit her grandchildren when needed. Becoming a Nanny (as she was called) was one of her greatest joys and blessings. To Jan her family was most important.

Jan was a woman of faith and never missed reading her daily devotions. She put others’ needs before her own, always being the caregiver of the family. Because of her failing health, Jan entered the Clara City Care Center on November 8, 2024.

Her survivors include her husband of almost 67 years, Mick Sellman of Montevideo, two daughters, Wendy Cook of West Olive, Michigan, Kim (Michael, MD) Vener of Watertown, South Dakota; two grandchildren Michelle Vener of Sartell, Minnesota and Thomas Vener of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Judy Lange, Joyce Lange, Dorothy (Wynia) Byers, Joyce (George) Bloom, Marilyn (Dave) Samuelson, Kae Bonde and brother-in-law, Tex Sellman all of Slayton; her Goddaughter, Luann (Meyer) Mart and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, her father and mother in-law John and Olga Sellman, sister Darlene Meyer and spouse John, brothers Milen Lange and wife Donna, Dale Lange and Jim Lange, brothers-in-law Jerry Wynia, Leroy Sellman, Rich Sellman and wife Diane, sister-in-law Twilla Sellman and nephews Randy Wynia, Sr. and Tom Lange.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jan’s memory to the Clara City Care Center, 1012 Division St. N, Clara City, MN 56222.

Arrangements are with the Wing-Bain Funeral Home of Montevideo. For online guestbook, please visit www.wingbain.com