The funeral service for Birdie Luella Selle will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Manchester Lutheran Church, Manchester. The Rev. Dennis Schmidt will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before service at the church. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery.
Birdie died Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, at Good Samaritan Center, Albert Lea. She was 87 years old.
Birdie was born in Albert Lea on July 13, 1921, the daughter of Andrew and Georgia (Griffin) Bothum. She graduated from Albert Lea High School. Birdie was married to Glenwood Anthony Selle on April 5, 1940, at the Little Brown Church in Nassua, Iowa. She had been a resident of Albert Lea all her life.
Birdie was a member of Manchester Lutheran Church and belonged to the Mission Circle. She also taught Sunday school.
Birdie had worked at Boeing Aircraft during World War II, Three Sisters, F.W. Woolworth, and was a dispatcher for Yellow Cab. She worked for two years taking care of five boys for Allen Menssen and later worked at Good Samaritan Center in the kitchen and laundry departments. She belonged to the ham radio and citizens band radio club and was a storm watcher.
Birdie enjoyed crocheting, knitting, crossword puzzles, playing bunco and making dolls and afghans. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Louisiana.
Birdie is survived by her children: Shirley (David) Poole of Albert Lea, Glenda Lowman of Albert Lea, Richard (Marlis) Selle of Madison Lake, Pamela (Matthew) Jachnycky of Lake Elmo and Alice (LeRoy) Wrobleski of Hartland; 20 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; sister: Audrey “Tootsie” Bothum of Hartland; many nieces and nephews; and close friend, Edna Berg of Albert Lea.
Birdie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Glen; sister, Ollie Nielsen; brother, Eugene Bothum; brother-in-law, Donald Nielsen; sister-in-law, Shirley Bothum; grandchild, Cynthia Colby.