Shirley Ann Sellman Liljegren

Shirley Ann was born to Esther and Philip Hedeen on April 23, 1927, in Portland, Oregon at Emanual Hospital. She was blessed to be the younger sister to Marjorie; these sisters brought great joy to their parents, friends, and extended family. The Swedish Mission Church was the spiritual and social foundation of Shirley's life—it was there that she accepted the Lord as her Savior at age 13.

From an early age, Shirley showed a gift for music, beginning with violin lessons at 5, the piano at 11, and the organ at 15. Her family encouraged this passion, allowing her to study both classical and evangelistic music in Portland; Her proudest moment—next to playing the piano at Billy Graham's Youth for Christ rallies in Portland—was receiving her degree in organ from the National Guild of Organists. Many churches, Covenant and other denominations, were blessed to have her as their organist.

In October of 1948, two sister sets, the Hedeens and Johnsons, left Portland for San Francisco, where all of them found work and love. Shirley was the organist at First Covenant, SF, where she met Wallace Sellman, who was singing in the choir. Two months later, they were engaged on Christmas Day and married on June 4, 1949, at the Portland Covenant Church.

1956 found the Sellmans moving from San Francisco to San Mateo, where they lived for 45 years. Peninsula Covenant Church was the faith center to the family and many dear friends were made there, several who have since retired here to Covenant Village.

Mission Springs held a special place in both Shirley and Wally's hearts. So it was a banner day when Shirley found a cabin to buy there in the summer of 1959. With her parents, the Hedeens and her sister's family, this became a haven of rest for the 3 families and many friends. She was delighted to know this place will continue in the Palmberg family.

The Sellman family loved to travel—Viking DNA. The pinnacle trip was to Europe in 1970, when Wally had a sabbatical from teaching and the family camped for several months in a red Volkswagen Camper. The 2 weeks in Sweden, meeting relatives and seeing the ancestry home, was a true highlight.

Three daughters were born to Shirley and Wallace: Karin Nesse, who lives in Missoula, MT; Kristel Carter in Arlington, TX; and Karole Palmberg, who lives here in Turlock. Eight grandchildren followed: Ingrid Nesse Gilmore, Brita Nesse (who preceded in death 1994), Luke Nesse, and Erik Nesse...Andrew Carter, Greta Carter Kwedar, and Caitlin Carter...Kristofer Palmberg. And in turn, there are seven great-grandchildren—Isak Nesse, Isabella Gilmore, Kassidy Palmberg, Kaleb Palmberg, Kellan Nesse, Henry Carter, and Michael Kwedar. All of these progeny carry the legacy of Mormor Shirley's music, wit, and faith.

Shirley was married to Wally for 52 years and then he went home to his Lord on August 26, 2001. Shirley moved to Covenant Village in November of that year and felt like she had come home. Playing for chapel services, both organ and piano, and working with such caring people here brought her such joy. God in His timing, brought a fellow widower here in 2005, Rev. William Liljegrin. They met and fell in love and married March 26, 2006. What a joy to see the laughter, love, and faith they shared for 10 years, along with the new relations that are so cherished and continue since Bill died on August 27, 2016.

It was hard to go through widowhood a second time, yet Shirley's family, friends, and music sustained her, built on the foundation of her abiding faith. The caring staff here at Covenant Village, now Covenant Living, brought us all peace, comfort, and hope as our mom lived well and graduated to Heaven. Soli Deo Gloria~

Please send donations to:

Covenant Living Benevolence Fund: 2125 N. Olive Avenue, Turlock, California 95382

Mission Springs Conference Center: 1050 Lockhart Gulch Rd., Scotts Valley, California 95066