Obituary of Verneita Sellman

Burlington, Colorado and former Kanorado, Kansas resident Verneita E. Sellman passed away on December 7, 2010 from a brief illness at her home in Burlington. She was 92 years old. Nita was born on October 29, 1918 in Cedar, Kansas to Ralph and Katherine (Dewey) Kelling. She was the oldest of three children one of whom died shortly after birth. She attended school in Kanorado, Kansas and graduated from Kanorado High School in 1936. On September 11, 1937, she married Clarence (Connie) Sellman in Sharon Springs, Colorado. To this union, two daughters Myrna and Marcy were born. The family moved to Wyoming during World War II where Connie drove a gasoline truck from the refineries. While living in Casper, Nita took instruction in the Lutheran Faith and was baptized and confirmed. The family returned to the Kanorado area in 1945 after the war ended. They lived on a farm north of Kanorado for a few years and then moved to the farm two miles east of town where she lived the next 50 years. Nita was a very active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlington. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was an active member and office holder of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and attended several national conventions along with other members of the local group. She participated in the women’s Bible Study group for many years. She worked as the church secretary for many years as well. While living on the farm near Kanorado, she joined several other women who were learning to paint with oils. The group met weekly for many years and became good friends. As a result, her family and friends have many of her paintings decorating their homes. She went with some of these women to participate in Elderhostel sessions that explored Native American history and culture. She loved to travel and in later years was amazed that she had had the opportunity to travel to so many places, including Alaska, Australia, Hawaii, Korea & China, Europe, Iceland, and around South America. She was always ready to go anywhere. She was a volunteer at the Burlington Welcome Center and enjoyed meeting people from around the US and other countries. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Connie in 1994, one daughter Myrna in 1956, two brothers Maynard (Bud) in 2001 and Junior in 1926, four brothers-in-law, and four sisters-in-law. She is survived by one daughter Marcy Carroll of Burlington, two grandchildren Patrick (Jennie)Carroll of Chattanooga, TN and Lisa Carroll of Helena, MT and three great granddaughters, Mandee Carroll of Havre, MT, Sydney and Lexie Carroll of Chattanooga, TN.