Agnes Sellin, 91 of Red Lake Falls, MN passed away on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at Hillcrest Senior Living, Red Lake Falls, MN with her loving family by her side.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 28, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Bob Schreiner presiding. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Red Lake Falls.
Agnes Lorraine Armstrong was born November 17, 1930, in Bison, SD the second of nine children born to Lee and Francis (Novak) Armstrong. She was baptized into the Presbyterian faith as an infant and moved with her family in a covered wagon to a farm near Strathcona, MN. She attended Grass Lake School near Honker Flats and moved to Thief River Falls where Agnes attended Lincoln High School. Throughout her life, Agnes was lovingly known as “Aggie”.
On October 21, 1948, Agnes was united in marriage to Henry Joseph Cota at St. Dorothy Catholic Church in Dorothy, MN. The couple settled in Grand Forks, ND. Agnes was baptized into the Catholic faith in August of 1949 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks, ND. A short time later, they moved to a farm near Dorothy and then to Red Lake Falls, MN where they raised their family of five, Roger, Ira, Gale, Judy and Shelly.
Agnes was very proud to be home with her children when they were young. She also did some daycare and house cleaning after the kids were old enough to go to school. Aggie worked summers at her sister’s flower shop “Esther’s Floral” in Red Lake Falls and in the mid-1980’s, Aggie went to work as a cook at J.A. Hughes Elementary School in Red Lake Falls. She retired in the mid-1990’s. Henry passed away in 1990.
Aggie enjoyed quilting, dancing, her perfect weedless garden (people would drive by to admire), traveling, feeding the neighborhood kids, and was noted for her canned dill pickles and sour cream gingerbread shaped cookies. She loved to attend school sporting events and activities of her children, grandchildren, and neighbors. Aggie also loved to spend time at their lake cabin at Arnesen’s Rocky Point on Lake of the Woods.
In 1989, Aggie and her three sisters toured Anchorage, Delta Junction (where they visited their aunt & uncle), and Fairbanks, AK. They drove almost everywhere they could around Alaska on their wonderful trip.
She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls where she was active in the Guild. Aggie was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and she enjoyed volunteering throughout the community.
Survivors include her children, Roger (Bonnie) Cota of St. Hilaire, MN, Ira (Deb) Cota of Red Lake Falls, MN, Gale Ray of Russellville, AR, Judy (Gene) Skala of Red Lake Falls, MN; grandchildren, Cristi (Trevor) Cota-Smith, Kelly (Julie) Cota, Danielle (John Bruggeman) Arlt, Meagan (Josh) Michaelson, Tyler (Sarah) Cota, Eric (Linsey) Gjerstad, Jon (Cheyenne) Ray, Lindsey Ray, Megg Ray, Elizabeth (Jeremiah) Skala-Vad, Anna (Bryce) Weisbeck, Adam (Grace) Skala, Natasha (Joe) Lucas; great-grandchildren, Aspen (Matt), Maci, Anastasia, Bryant, Liam, Gracelynn, Blake, Chase, Brody, Owen, Ellianna, Iwalani, Hazel, Krishna, Inana, Traya, Johnny, Lincoln, Mckayla, Hailey, Courtney, Hunter, Jaxon, Tate, Taya, Mya, Charlotte “Charlie”; great-great grandson, Brooks; siblings, Ellen (Wally) Johnson, Nancy (Galen) Pederson, Dave (Rosie) Armstrong; sister-in-law, Janet Armstrong; brother-in-law, Edward Cota; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Henry; daughter, Shelly (Jim) Schindler; son-in-law, Max Ray; brothers, Harry (Lorraine) Armstrong, Arthur (Janeth “Dolly”) Armstrong, Charles “Chuck” Armstrong, Joseph (Virginia “Ginny”) Armstrong; sister, Esther (Medi) Cota; 15 of Henry’s brothers and sisters; and many other relatives and friends.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
