FAULKTON — Bernadine Roseland Cordts Selting, 90, of Faulkton, passed away Friday, June 16, 2017, at Sunquest Healthcare Center, Huron.
Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Bill Hoffman officiating. Burial will follow in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 19, at the funeral home.
Bernadine Roseland was born August 12, 1926, at Seneca to George and Genevieve (Neuroth) Roseland. Bernadine was known as “Sister,” and grew up on the family farm southeast of Seneca with her parents, brother, Dean and sister, Arlene. She called it “No man’s land” - no phones, no electricity, no running water.
As a young girl, Bernadine discovered her first love and love of her life - horses. She never had riding lessons - she had horses for as long as she could remember. But her lack of formal training didn’t keep others from seeking her advice about horses. She had a natural talent; she used to break horses for people when she was in grade school and high school. She rode bareback down a dirt trail to country school each day. After school she loved to help her dad with chores around the farm. During her high school years, Bernadine lived in a boarding house in Seneca during the winters. She graduated from Seneca High School, then went to Minneapolis where she taught horseback riding for three years and came home in the winters to help her dad with the cattle.
Bernadine returned home and worked as a waitress at a local diner in Faulkton. It was there that she met and was courted by her first husband Gus. In January 1949, Bernadine married Harlan “Gus” Cordts in Wellington, Texas. She and Gus made their home in Faulkton for 25 years, farming, raising quarter horses, Dalmatian dogs, and their two children, Scott and Georgia. Bernadine cherished the land on which her barn sits; it housed Bernadine’s Quarter Horses for more than 40 years. Bernadine produced several South Dakota high-point yearlings and two-year-old’s, and state futurity winners, including a gelding which earned Registers of Merit in youth and open competition.
Gus passed away in September 1973. Bernadine married long-time family friend Aloysius “Butch” Selting on September 29, 1975. She and Butch were married for 25 years and continued building their legacy in the Quarter Horse business. They registered more than 180 foals in their Quarter Horse careers. Of the Seltings’ many awards, their 1997 South Dakota Quarter Horse Association honorary lifetime membership was a favorite. After Butch passed in 2001 Bernadine continued to live at home in Faulkton until January 2014, when she moved to StoneyBrook Suites Assisted Living in Huron.
Bernadine was a member of Faulkton United Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary and helped with the local 4H program for many years. She loved to cook and entertained many friends, relatives and hunters in her home. She loved her family, many special friends, horses, dogs, chocolate, country western music, nice clothes, beautiful flowers and the color purple.
Grateful for having shared her life are her two children, Scott (Margaret) Cordts of Huron, and Georgia (Gary) Chudd of Littleton, Colo.; four grandchildren, Cristin (Brook) Fischer of Bellevue, Neb., Alyssa Cordts of Minneapolis, Minn., Courtney Chudd and Jeffrey Chudd, both of Littleton, Colo.; two great-grandsons, Brenden Fischer and Corbin Fischer of Bellevue, Neb.; and many nephews and nieces.
Bernadine was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; brother; sister; and nephew.
Memorials may be directed to the Faulkton Area Medical Center Foundation, South Dakota State Fair Foundation, Faulkton Cemetery Association or the charity of your choosing.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Bernadine’s arrangements.
Visit www.familyfuneralhome.net
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