Gary Emil Selberg

Gary Emil Selberg,

75,Velva, died Monday,

October 2, 2017, following

a long and hard fought

battle with pulmonary as-

bestos disease.

Gary was born February

27, 1942, in Minot, ND to

Emil and Cecilia (Jacob-

son) Selberg. Gary’s

childhood was full of ad-

venture and the beginning

of life long relationships.

Gary spent high school

summers near Flathead

Lake, earning money

painting and spending

time with his aunts. Gary

graduated from Velva

High School in 1960.

Gary worked in the cus-

tom combining industry

prior to continuing his

education at the Wahpe-

ton State School of Sci-

ence. He completed the

electrician program and

became an apprentice in

the IBEW. Gary was a 48

year member of the IBEW

and was installed in the

Local Union 292 in Min-

neapolis in 1969, transfer-ring his membership to

the Local Union 714 in

Minot in 1977. Gary be-

lieved in worker’s rights

and he never was one to

compromise his values.

Gary continued

throughout his life to ex-

tend a hand to the

members of the IBEW

long after retirement. In

2004, he started what he

called the “Help A Brother

Fund.” The fund sent mo-

ney to fellow members or

their families during

times of need. Gary lead

the program until just two

weeks ago.

As someone with a

nickname for everyone,

he was known by many as

Cadillac Jack. Gary was

once in a lifetime kind of

person. He was an amaz-

ing storyteller, a mentor,

practical joker, gardener,

perfectionist, and an in-

dependent thinker.

Gary’s heart was bigger

than life.

He is survived by his

‘Sweetheart’ of 43 years,

Alice Selberg, Velva;

daughters, Stacey Shef-

field, Plant City, FL, Jody

Selberg and husband,

Aaron Wangen, Mankato,

MN, Sandra Ruth Selberg,

Mankato, MN and Teryl

Anderson and husband,

SMSgt. Joe Anderson,

Minot, ND; adopted

daughter, Leah Turner

and husband, Matt;

grandchildren, Ciara, Cel-

ice, Carissa, Dylan,

Cecelia, Mariah, Oakley,

Finley Emil, Norah Ruth,

Genesis and Ezra;

great-grandchildren, Cay-

den and Knox and

nephews, Mark and Mel

Brekhus along with his

sidekick, Penn Johnston.

Gary was preceded in

death by his parents, sis-

ter and brother-in-law,

Annetta and Berle Draper,

brother and sister-in-law,

Howard and Fern Brekhus

and niece, Mary Brekhus.

Funeral Service: 2:00

p.m. Saturday, October 7,

2017 at Oak Valley Luth-

eran Church, Velva.

Interment: Velva Com-

munity Cemetery, Velva,

ND later in 2017.

Visitation: Friday, Oc-

tober 6, 2017, from 5:00

p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the

Thomas Family Funeral

Home, Minot.

A celebration of Gary’s

life for family and friends

will be held after the fun-

eral service at the Electri-

cal Workers LU714 at 125

35th Ave NE in Minot. All

are invited to attend and

share stories and

memories.

Those wanting to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories and

condolences are invited to

use the expressions of

sympathy section at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com