Helen LaRue Wasden Selman was born August 27, 1927 to Myron William Wasden and Flossie Reynolds at Scipio, Utah. She died on May 13, 2019, in Kaysville, Utah, at the home of her daughter, Anita Flink, of natural causes. She was 91.
LaRue, as she was called, attended school in Scipio and Fillmore where she was a stellar student. She was 16 when she graduated and moved on to Brigham Young University. In addition to excelling academically, she blossomed socially while she was there.
After a couple of years, her education was interrupted when she met Orrin McEwan Selman from Orem, Utah. They married on her 19th birthday, August 27, 1946, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Orrin continued his schooling and became a teacher while LaRue dedicated her life to their large family.
They eventually had 12 children. LaRue always supported Orrin, which meant moving many times as he changed schools often and tried a good number of business ventures. They both continued their educations; Orrin formally at universities, and LaRue with Relief Society and community education classes.
But when Orrin decided to get his Doctorate, he insisted LaRue go back to BYU and complete her bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Relations. She was pregnant with her 10th child at the time but graduated with honors anyway! She received the loudest cheers from her classmates at her graduation.
Orrin died in 1986, and LaRue carried on without him for 32 years! Several of her children were blessed to have her live with them for most of those years! She had many talents and interests that she pursued.
She was a published author of children’s books (mostly written in rhyme). As an artist, she also illustrated many of them. She excelled at cooking and sewing and even taught a college class in International Cooking.
At 75, she learned to conduct music to fulfill her calling as Relief Society chorister. LaRue always put her family first and was also dedicated to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many callings throughout her life including Relief Society President, Primary President, and as a Teacher many times.
Probably, her favorite activity, especially in her later years, was doing Genealogical Name Extraction. With this experience, she was called on a mission to work as a proofreader/reviewer of records extracted by other people from around the world. She faithfully rode the bus to downtown Salt Lake City for many years and extended her mission when asked.
After her release, she continued to do extraction work until physically unable to continue. She was blessed with numerous posterity: Children: Thelma Ann (Maughan Guymon), Carolyn (Wayne Painter), Kathy (Rex Firth), Sandra (Ron Mower), LaMar Wasden (Karen Larson), Alan George, Anita (Edward Flink), Lorraine (Karl Cameron), Gwen, William Vernon (deceased), Richard Orrin (Barbara Dodds), and David Kay (deceased). Grandchildren: 70; Great-grandchildren: 180; Great Great-grandchildren: 24.
She is survived by her sister, Jenny Wasden Maycock; and preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Kay LaVoy Wasden. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at the Kaysville Main Street Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 500 S. Main Street, Kaysville. Friends and family are invited to visit Friday evening 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City; and at the church Saturday morning 9:30-10:30 A.M. prior to the service.
Interment will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
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