Selma M. Brethour

Selma M. (Ullrich) Brethour, age 96, passed away on September 12, 2016 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be Thursday, September 15th, from 5-7PM at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel. Her funeral service will be on Friday, September 16th, at 10:30AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2220 Broadway, Scottsbluff with Pastor Jeffery Grams officiating. A memorial has been established to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Scottsbluff. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery following the service.

Selma Marie Brethour was born January 17, 1920 in Lincoln, NE to John and Lydia (Fischer) Ullrich. She received her education in eastern Nebraska and South Dakota and moved to the Scottsbluff area with her parents where she attended business classes at Scottsbluff Jr. College. Selma worked for Terry Carpenter, Inc. for several years. On January 11, 1943 she married Richard L Brethour in Oklahoma City, where he was stationed with the Army Air Corps. They returned from San Antonio, TX to Scottsbluff in November 1945.

Selma was a phone operator for United Telephone Company, and then bookkeeper for Grantham Wholesale. For thirty years, Selma was the office manager for Ledbetter’s, Inc. until her retirement in 1982. After retirement they traveled to Texas for two winters, and then spent several winters in Hemet, California, followed by spending the remainder of their winters in Mesa, AZ until her husband passed away November 19, 2002. They were two months short of their 60th wedding anniversary, but celebrated life together daily. Selma was very active, driving herself around town until she was over 95 years of age. She enjoyed numerous hobbies with dancing at the top of the list which included ballroom, square, round and line dancing. Selma was a creative seamstress and alterations guru, including sewing square dance dresses. She was a great baker and hosted many large family dinners over the years for their siblings and families and friends. She also enjoyed playing bridge, pinochle, cribbage, and any game that presented spending time with her grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family members. She is a 75 plus year member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff.

Selma is survived by her son, Richard L., Jr (Kathy) of Nelson, NE and her daughter, Gail (John) Koenig of Scottsbluff; grandsons, Richard (Lisa) Brethour of Tempe, AZ and Michael (Katie) Brethour of Scottsdale, AZ and granddaughter, Shannon (Eric) Tracy-Freund of Denver; four great grandchildren – Isabel, Logan, Andrew and Ivy Brethour; step-grandchildren, Jeff Koenig, Jon Koenig and Kristin Abernethy and their families. She is also survived by two brothers, Herbert Ullrich of Scottsbluff and Arthur Ullrich of Hemingford, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews and their children.

Selma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard; brothers, Leland and Arnold Ullrich; sister, Elsie Wentz; and grandson, Cooper Brethour. May she Rest in Peace.