Selma Hughes, 96 of Albert Lea
Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 15, 2008
Selma V. Hughes, 96, of Albert Lea, formerly of Alden, died Thursday, March 13, 2008 at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Alden. Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Reverend Cherie Daniel will officiate and burial will be in the Cambria Township Cemetery, Cambira Twp., Blue Earth County.
Selma Victoria Hughes was born February 18, 1912, in Cylinder, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Anna (Heng) Anderson and moved to a farm near Madelia. She graduated from Madelia High School in 1930 and Mankato State College. Selma was united in marriage to Thomas Floyd Hughes on August 29, 1938 in Cambria, and then the couple established their home in Alden. Selma was a member of the United Methodist Church of Alden and served faithfully in many capacities. She taught Sunday school for 50 years, was Sunday school superintendent, treasurer, and directed the children&8217;s choir. Besides various church organizations, she was a member of the Alden Federated Tuesday Study Club, the Alden PTA and was on the original Board of Directors of the Alden Community Historical Society. She was also involved in many other volunteer activities. Selma taught at country schools for six years and in 1948 began teaching spring primary for five years, becoming the first kindergarten teacher in the Alden school system.
In 1953, Selma became a full-time teacher. She taught two years (1953-1955) at Freeborn Elementary School before becoming part of the Alden-Conger faculty as third-grade teacher and elementary principal. She held this position for 22 years, retiring in 1977. Since 2001, she has lived at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home where she received excellent care.
Her main interests were working with children and helping others.
She is survived by one son: Tom Hughes of Alden; three sisters: Naomi Haven of Tacoma, Wash., Agnes Sather of Jackson, and Nanci Frank of Cincinnati, Ohio; along with several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Floyd, daughter Alice, brother Bernard Anderson and sister Alice Schweider.