Gary D. Selvaag

Gary Selvaag, Moorhead, passed away May 4th surrounded by family after battling epithelioid sarcoma. He was born March 20, 1957 in Wadena, MN to Donald and Deloris (Anderson) Selvaag. After living briefly in Minnetonka and Battle Lake, MN, the family settled in Vining, MN.

Gary graduated from Henning High School, attended Fergus Falls Community College, and graduated from Moorhead State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

It was at MSU that Gary met the love of his life, Merle Holcomb. They were married on May 30, 1981 in Vining, MN. Together they raised two sons, Erik and Jay. Gary was very involved with their youth activities, coaching soccer and baseball, managing traveling hockey teams, and serving as a Boy Scout leader. He loved spending time with Merle and his boys, especially on family vacations to Twins games in Minneapolis, and trips to Arizona, the Black Hills, Michigan and Las Vegas.

Gary spent his work career in sales. First, in men’s clothing at Straus Co., then in pet supplies, insurance and business forms, before finding his niche in the optical industry. He managed Midwest Vision Centers in Fargo for 25 years and spent the past 7 years as a sales representative for Safilo Group, an optical frame manufacturer. Gary loved helping his customers and traveling to accounts in ND and MN.

Gary was a huge sports fan. He rarely missed watching or listening to his Minnesota Twins, and he was a big fan of Moorhead Spuds hockey, the Wild, Vikings and the Minnesota Gophers. He also loved spending time fishing, reading and listening to music, but his biggest joy was spending time with Merle and the family. He treasured his time with his precious granddaughters.

Gary is survived by his wife and best friend, Merle, son Erik, son Jay and daughter-in-law Catherine, granddaughters Norah and Mackenzie, brother Allan (Linda) Selvaag, sisters Kristine (Calvin) Olson and Kay (Jeffrey) Lukken, brother-in-law Brad (Laurie) Holcomb, sister-in-law Susan Vaudrin, sister-in-law Mary Holcomb, sister-in-law Candace (Frank) Holcomb-James and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Deloris and Donald Selvaag, mother and father-in-law Evelyn and Boyd Holcomb and brother-in-law Michael Holcomb.

Funeral services will be privately held, but a livestream of the service will be available here on Gary’s webpage on Sunday, May 23rd at 2 P.M.