June 30, 1938-August 29, 2025
Our courageous and bold Ingrid left us in August. With her sweet partner Brent close by, she quietly passed on. After a life rich in adventure, family, friendships, and international travel, Ingrid spent her last years close to home in Gloucester, Virginia.
In the small mountain town of Schneeberg, Germany, Ingrid grew up with her brother and parents learning to ski on the steep cobblestone streets. Her family survived World War II and later escaped to West Germany to start a new life in 1952.
Ingrid Seltmann started her hairdressing career as an apprentice at age 17. Already independent and living in her own flat in Wiebelskirchen, she and her lifelong friend, Crystle Schmall, explored their region of Germany and soon Ingrid met a U.S. Air Force soldier at Ramstein; she married David Rodman in 1960 in Germany. They had their son, Kurt, in 1964 and then moved back to the U.S. where David started his trucking business. With the Rodman family living in South Dakota, they later had their daughter, Susanne.
Ingrid married a second time to Frank Westendorf who passed away in a tragic accident in Bermuda in 1996.
Always interested in the next adventure, Ingrid was an active contributor in traveling with her family to Europe and all over the U.S. She loved to host dinner parties and spent many hours dancing with friends. She laughed, told tall stories, and shared her strong opinions with a glint of curiosity in how others would respond.
Later in life, Ingrid found her soul mate, Brent Ruehlman, her partner for 27 years. Since 1998, they built a beautiful life together in Gloucester, where they hosted visits from their children and grandchildren. They shared an active group of friends who all support each other with devoted hearts.
Loving them from a distance, Ingrid maintained her family ties to her children, Kurt in Minnesota (who passed away in 2019) and Susanne in Alaska. Also, Kurt’s children, Jessica in Wyoming and Melody in South Dakota, stayed in close contact. Melody’s children, Paxton and Parker, brought so much joy to their great-grandmother.
In her last few years, as her mind succumbed to dementia, Ingrid still carried on with her friends at Gloucester House. She participated in senior living, with Brent’s frequent visits and children and grandchildren visiting from afar.
She is survived by her partner, Richard (Brent) Ruehlman; daughter, Susanne Rodman; grandchildren, Jessica Rodman, Melody Menge, and Vaughn Rodman. Ingrid fostered sweet relationships with her nieces and nephews in South Dakota and Kansas on the Rodman side, Brent’s family in Ohio and Michigan, and the Seltmann family in Germany. She had friends all over the U.S. and Germany holding her memory dear. We will miss her feisty commentary and deep love that she held in her heart for the family and friends throughout her life.
Please consider making a donation to a charitable organization of your choice in Ingrid’s name.