Geneva Marie Selin

Geneva Marie Selin, 91, of Cambridge, MN, passed away peacefully at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park, MN, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

A Celebration of Life service will take place at 2:00pm on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Wyanett Evangelical Free Church, Princeton, MN.  Visitation 1 hour before the service.  Honorary urn bearers are her grandsons.

Geneva was born to Joseph and Eva (Gran) Olson on July 28, 1933, in Aitkin, MN.  She graduated from Braham High School in 1951.

In early April of 1954, she went with her Aunt Emma to California to visit Richard Selin (her fiancé) where he was stationed in the United States Marine Corp.  Turns out they planned a last-minute wedding and were married on April 21, 1954, as Dick was to be deployed to Oahu, Hawaii.  They honeymooned for 2 years on Oahu thanks to Uncle Sam. While in Hawaii, Dick and Geneva had twin boys that were stillborn in March of 1955.

They returned to California where Dick received his degree as an airline mechanic at Northrup Aeronautical Institute.  They then moved back to Minnesota where Geneva was a homemaker and secretary at Salem Free Church in Minneapolis.  Their children, Richard Jr and Gloria, were born during this time.  In 1963 while attending Camp Shamineau family camp, they felt called to the mission field and were missionaries to Congo, Africa from 1966-1973.  They returned to Cambridge, MN, where they resided for the remainder of their lives. 

Geneva had many jobs throughout her life – her and Dick ran the Hub Office Machine store as well as the Radio Shack/Good News Music store in Cambridge.  She also worked at Paris Cleaners in Cambridge, Cornelius in Anoka, election judge, administrative assistant for a title and an insurance company, Foster Grandparent at the Isanti primary school for 17 years, and mowed her 1-acre lawn.

Geneva was always up for a trip somewhere and we so enjoyed including her in family travels.  She went back to Hawaii, Florida several times, train trips out west, many camping trips, a trip with friends to England and even got in on a Gaither cruise.

Geneva was a member of Wyanett Evangelical Free church and was involved in many ministries – she served as a Sunday School teacher, was active in the women’s ministries and was always interested in visitors attending the church.   Up until February of this year she was involved in Wednesday bible study and Friday night care group shenanigans.  She loved playing Mexican train, Skip-bo, Racko, Speed Scrabble and doing puzzles. 

Geneva will be remembered for her strong faith, love for her family and friends, egg blossoms and rice pudding.

Geneva is survived by her children Rick (Jody) Selin and Gloria Selin.  Grandsons Caleb Selin (fiancé Bridgette Pumarlo) and Carson Selin.  Sister Audrey (Don) Swedberg.  Sisters-in-law Edna Selin, Joyce Selin and Marilyn VanderPloeg.  Brothers-in-law Harold (Becky) Selin, Roger (Marilee) Selin. Also many nieces and nephews.

Geneva is preceded in death by her husband of 39 years Richard Selin Sr, twin sons, twin grandsons, parents Joseph and Eva (Gran) Olson, sisters Ardene (Dick) Nehring and Glenna (Rob) Kelly, brothers in law George Selin, Kenneth Selin, Roger VanderPloeg and sister-in-law Janet Selin.

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