Barbara Agnes Selzler

Her prayers for a peaceful death were answered due to excellent medical care from her professional providers of Yakima, and the mindfully kind care of the good people at Good Samaritan Health Care, where she was a resident for some time.

Born to Pius and Christine (Gefre) Waldman, in Hague, South Dakota on October 11, 1918, Barbara was the oldest of 12 children. A farm girl, she was raised and educated around Glencross, SD.

Like so many of the rich cultural heritage known as “Germans From Russia”, and their immediate descendants born in America, Barbara joined relatives who had by series of migrations finally settled in the land of milk and honey in these Yakima valleys. First coming to care for her grandpa and grandma Gefre and work on the farm in Outlook, she later worked in the farming and canning industries in Toppenish and Yakima.

At 22 years of age, Barbara was employed on a ranch in Outlook as an elder-care giver, and cook for the ranch hands. Here she met Mark Selzler, who also recently had come out from the Dakotas to work on Uncle Joe’s farm at Byron, and with whom she shared a common heritage. (Dad’s parents and older siblings were German pioneers who had migrated from the Selz region in southern Russia. And, some of the Selzlers and Waldmans were acquainted in the Dakotas society.)

Eventually, Barbara and Mark married in June of 1940, and since shared 66 years together until she was widowed in May of 2007. By their strong work ethic they prospered, built, and owned homes in Yakima for over 65 years (and notably had the same phone number for over 60 years).

Besides raising their three children, Robert M. Selzler, Sandra (Darrell) Turner and James Selzler, all of Yakima, they were grandparents to Eric Dean (Wendy) Selzler of Longview; Marc Cole (Melissa, Cole, Patnode), Yakima. And, great grandparents to Jessica Selzler, San Diego, CA; Tanner and Kaden Zane Selzler, Longview; Michael Cole, Spokane; and Amanda Cole, Yakima.

Besides all her children, Barbara is survived by her brothers Albert and Jerome Waldman of Yakima, and Harvey Waldman of Kennewick; and sisters Rita Yates and Hilda Gallipo of Yakima, and Gwen Druce of Seattle.

Besides her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers, Ramon “Shorty Ray” Waldman, Yakima; Tony Waldman, Yakima; champion boxer William “Willy” Waldman, Yakima; Pius “Pete” Waldman, Zillah; and sister Adele “Delly G” Dauenhauer of Yakima.

Barbara was a devout Catholic. She loved the Lord, and was a member of St. Paul Parish for over 60 years.

Sandra: “As the oldest of 12 children, Mom always was a mother figure; she knew her station and took it joyfully. She loved all her children and supported us in every way.”

James: “Mom was one of the best people God ever put on this earth, one of those people that just make you smile to think of her. She was always more concerned about others’ well being than her own. Mom was God’s gift to our family.”

Visitation and viewing will be held at Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 until 8;00 p.m. A Vigil service will be held at Langivin-Mussetter Funeral Home on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul Cathedral on Friday, December, 2011 at 10:00a.m. Concluding services and entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.