Bert Selix

A public visitation for Bert Selix, of Starbuck, will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck.  A private family funeral service and burial will be held.  Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Starbuck.

There will be a live stream of Bert’s funeral service beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8.  To view the service on the Starbuck Funeral Home website, scroll to the bottom of Bert’s obituary page to view.  If you are unable to watch the live stream, a webcast of the funeral will be available.

Bert LeRoy Selix was born in Benson, Minnesota on April 4, 1938, the youngest of seven children to Mervin and Angeline (Gunderson) Selix.  He lived with his parents south of Benson until the family moved to Blue Mounds Township, Pope County when he was a child.  Bert grew up on there, helping his Mom and Dad on the farm.  He received his education until the 6th grade.  In 1961, Bert purchased a farm and made it his own, raising beef cattle and grain farming.  In 1970, at a dance at Lake Henry, he was introduced to Ovonne Thorp, the two began dating and were married on August 14, 1971 at Paynesville Lutheran Church in Paynesville, Minnesota.  After ten years of marriage, they adopted their first child, James in the summer of 1981, and in the fall of 1982, they adopted their daughter, Mary.  Farming was Bert’s life.  In the 1960s he also worked for Chalenburg Implement, Lindberg Implement of Starbuck and Lorenz Manufacturing of Benson.  In 1996, Bert retired from farming, he then served on the Blue Mounds Township Board for several years, to keep himself busy.

Bert was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck.  He had many hobbies, including: bowling, baseball, playing cards, reading, fishing, camping, and gardening.  He was always willing to help out those in need.  He enjoyed the peacefulness of sitting outside at the farm in the quiet, reflecting and admiring the land.  Family was extremely important to Bert; he loved his children unconditionally – like they were his own flesh and blood.  He was a faithful husband, he was a faithful father, he was a faithful friend, and he was a faithful steward of the land.

Bert died peacefully on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud Minnesota; he was 82 years old.

Bert is survived by his wife, Ovonne of Starbuck; his children: James Selix of Bloomington, and Mary Selix of Starbuck; many nieces, nephews and extended family.  He is preceded in death by his parents; and siblings and their spouses: Elmer and Grace, Emery and Opal, Merlin “Bud” and Millie, Sylvia and Floyd Strickler, and Marcella and Inez.

Starbuck Funeral Home is in care of arrangements for Bert.