Anna “Ann” Muriel Seely

Anna (Ann) M. Seely, age 93, formerly of Baltic, passed away on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at Touchmark at All Saints in Sioux Falls.  Memorial visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Tuesday October 3, 2023, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic.  Interment will be at the Pioneer Cemetery at 10:00 AM Wednesday October 4, 2023. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Ann was born the youngest of three children at Canova, South Dakota, on February 2, 1930 to Sarah (Sweet) and Carl Erickson. She attended rural grade schools including the Tinnaman School, rural Winfred and the Palmquist corner grade school east of Canova, and graduated from Canova High School in 1947.  Ann attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) where she met her future husband, J. Craig Seely. She graduated in 1951 and they were married December 23, 1951 at the rural Union Presbyterian Church southwest of Winfred.

Ann and Craig welcomed their first son Scott in Chicago in 1953 while Craig served in the Army. Their second son Brad was born in Vinton, Iowa where Craig held a County Extension position. The family moved to Sioux Falls in 1956 and finally made their home on an acreage in Baltic in 1961. Ann taught school for 30 years including home economics at Estelline, nursery school and kindergarten at All Saints School in Sioux Falls, and home economics and kindergarten at Baltic, until retiring in 1991.

Ann and Craig joined Hilltop United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls in 1962 and Ann was very active in the United Methodist Women, circles, mission work and held many offices.  Ann was also active in civic organizations including Baltic American Legion Auxiliary, Sioux Empire Home Economics; and national, state and local extension clubs.

Ann was elected the first South Dakota State President of Future Homemakers of America (FHA), she is a member of Who's Who in Colleges and Universities (SDSU), and was named Eminent Homemaker of South Dakota in 2005.

Ann enjoyed watching her sons' involvement in football, first playing at Baltic High School and SDSU, then coaching, and also watching Brad coach at the professional level. She was also an avid fan of SDSU sports. Ann especially enjoyed gardening and canning; as well as entering exhibits and judging at many county fairs.

Ann is survived by her two sons, Scott (Val) Seely and Brad (Patti) Seely; grandchildren Sarah Seely, Jo (Eric) Stockton, Hannah (Nick) DeConti, Brett (Gabby) Seely and Brynn Seely; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Craig, sister Mildred Pearson and brother Richard Erickson.