Alvina passed away Sunday June 1st at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester Minnesota after a brief illness.

Alvina Ruth Tesdahl Sellers was born November 17, 1915 on a farm north of Holmes in Wright County Iowa. She was the daughter of Henry and Anna Larson Tesdahl. Following the death of her mother, Alvina helped raise her two younger sisters, Margaret and Mim, and brother, Rich. She attended a rural school in Norway Township, north of Clarion Iowa and graduated from Clarion High School in 1932. She later taught students in the same one-room schoolhouse she attended as a child.

On August 17, 1937, Alvina married L.W. Sellers. The couple had two children, daughter Sandra Kay and son, James David. L.W. and Alvina made their home first in Austin, Minnesota and later on farms north of Clarion and south of Eagle Grove. In 1950 they moved to the Frye family farm in Wall Lake Township.

Alvina was named a Master Farm Homemaker in 1967. She served as a 4-H club leader for fifteen years, receiving the Wright County 4-H Alumni Award in 1975. She was a Life Member of the Associated Country Women of the World.

Alvina was an active member of her community. She served as Chairperson of the Wright County Farm Bureau Women and received the AAUW Woman of the Year Award in 1997 as well as the Outstanding Long Term Service Award from the Clarion Chamber of Commerce in 1998. She was a member of the Friendly Neighbor Club, Christian Women’s Club, hospital Auxiliary, Federated Club and Wall Lake Monday Club. She was a member of the Clarion School Board for ten years. Alvina was a member of First Lutheran Church, Clarion, and served as Sunday School Superintendent, teacher and FLCW President. She was the first woman Deacon in her church.

Alvina was known as Iowa’s Hat Lady. She had a collection of over 6,000 hats and began giving her Hats and Happiness programs in 1968. Over the next thirty-five years, she gave programs in 20 states, from New York to California and Minnesota to Texas. One of the highlights of her career was an appearance on the David Letterman Show on September 17, 1987. She entertained, delighted and inspired her audiences. Her final program, number 5,636, was given Saturday, May 17, 2003 in Rochester, Minnesota.

Humor and a positive outlook kept Alvina young at heart. She loved children, sunsets, friends and family and centered her life on Christian values. She loved her life as a farm wife and enjoyed creating a second career as a public speaker and entertainer. Her loss will be felt deeply by family, friends and community.

Alvina was preceded in death by husband, L.W., in 1998; granddaughter, Jackie Denise Sellers and sister Margaret Armstrong. She is survived by daughter, Dr. Sandra Sellers Hanson of New York City; son and daughter-in-law, James and Joan Sellers of Clarion; grandsons Jason Sellers of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jay Sellers of Bloomington, Minnesota; sister Dr. Mim Ballou and husband, Phil, of Marco Island, Florida; brother Rich Tesdahl and wife, Elaine, of Clarion; as well as many nephews and nieces.

Visitation is 5:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 4 at Willim Funeral Home, Clarion Iowa. Services will be held at First Lutheran Church, Clarion, at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2003. Lunch will be served at Heartland Museum, Clarion, following the committal service at Evergreen Cemetery.