Selma Malinda Bergemann was born October 6, 1911 to Rudolf and Mathilda (Luedtke) Bergemann in Willey Township near Milnor, North Dakota. She was baptized in Zion Lutheran Church, Willey Township, near Milnor, North Dakota. Selma attended county school in Willey Township near her home, where she completed the 8th grade in the spring of 1926. She was confirmed in May of 1926 at Zion Lutheran Church, Willey Township. She attended Milnor High School for four years and graduated in 1930. In the fall of 1930 she attended State Normal School at Ellendale, North Dakota and received her teaching certificate from there. While living there she worked for her board and room. In January 1931, she began teaching in the county school where she finished 8th grade. She taught there seven years and was able to stay at her parents home and ride horse back to and from school in all kinds of weather. On June 8, 1938, she married David Bartz from near Kramer, North Dakota. Their first home was near Kramer. Here she taught county school for a year. In the fall of 1939, they moved to Lisbon, North Dakota, where they ran a café for a year. Their oldest son, Daryl was born in Milnor. In September of 1940, they moved to Fairmont, Minnesota. In the spring of 1941, they moved to the Lawrence Bergemann farm where Dave was a hired hand. They joined Fraser Lutheran Church. Here Selma taught Sunday School and was an active member of Zion's L.W.M.L. In January of 1943, they rented a farm in Fraser Township and began farming on their own. Son, Gary was born in April of 1944. Their daughter, Zelda was born in March of 1947. In 1958, they moved to a farm in Rolling Green Township, south of Welcome. After twenty-one years there and a serious car accident, they retired. Upon retirement, they moved into their home in Welcome in December of 1978. They have kept their membership at Zion in Fraser Township. Selma enjoyed living in Welcome and being a full-time housewife and enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and did sewing for them. Dave and her spent winters from January of 1975 to late March of 1991 in McAllen, Texas, where they met many friends and enjoyed the park activities.

Selma died on Sunday morning, July 30, 2006 at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, Minnesota at the age of ninety-four years.

Those Who Shared in Selma's Life
Her two sons, Daryl Bartz and his wife, Carol, of rural Welcome, Minnesota, Gary Bartz and his wife, Marilynn, of Plymouth, Minnesota; daughter, Zelda Malo and her husband, Jerry, of Delano, Minnesota; ten grandchildren, Dereck Bartz and his wife, Cathy, of rural Truman, Minnesota, Kevin Bartz and his wife, Kathy, of rural Truman, Minnesota, Craig Bartz and special friend, Robb Volkel of St. Paul, Minnesota, Wade Bartz and his wife, Gloria, of Woodward, Iowa, Jason Bartz and special friend, Theresa Pennington of Forrest City, Iowa, Brian Malo and his wife, Deb, of Greenwood, Minnesota, Kari Wise and her husband, Tom, of Albertville, Minnesota, Troy Malo and his wife, Angie, of Delano, Minnesota; Connie Peymann and her husband, Gary, of Fairmont, Minnesota and Kristy Prafke and her husband, Kevin, of rural Welcome, Minnesota; sixteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Elvira Colby of Fairmont, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Edith Bartz of Forman, North Dakota and several nieces and nephews and other relatives.