Mary Elaine Seelinger, 90

Mary Elaine Seelinger was born in St. Cloud, Minn., on Sept. 24, 1920. In the 90 years that followed, she built a life rich with family, friends and professional accolades.

Mary Elaine graduated from St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana in 1942, sparking a passion for education, which would include positions at Browning High School, Montana State College, the College of Great Falls and Northern Montana College.

She met Bud Seelinger of Great Falls (deceased in 1999), and they married in 1944.

From 1963 to 1982 Mary Elaine taught English, speech and newspaper at Havre High School. In 1968 she was recognized as a Speech Coach of the Year in the state of Montana.

Mary Elaine was president of the Catholic Women in the Eastern Montana Diocese in 1960. She served for 12 years on the Havre Hospital Board and was the first president of the foundation board for the Flathead County Library. In 1987 she was the first person ever inducted into the Montana Forensic Educators Association Hall of Fame.

Mary Elaine and Bud retired to Whitefish in 1986, where they enjoyed golf, gourmet cooking and growing roses and were active at St. Charles Catholic Church. A debilitating stroke ended her retirement in Whitefish, and the last seven years of her life were spent at the Lourdes-Noreen McKeen facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.

She is survived by her son, James and wife, Jean, of North Palm Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Jill and husband, Jamie Cobb of Cary, N.C., Michael Seelinger of South Bend, Ind., and Jody and husband, Matthew Foye of Austin, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Carter and Ella Cobb, and Daphne Foye.

Mary Elaine's funeral Mass was celebrated March 5 at St. Clare Catholic Church in North Palm Beach, Fla. She will be buried at 10 a.m. March 14 in the Whitefish Cemetery. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. March 15 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Whitefish.

Contributions can be made in memory of Mary Elaine Seelinger to the Lourdes-Noreen McKeen Residence, 315 S. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

Arrangements entrusted to Austin Funeral Home.