Our Valued Staff
Our staff members are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.
Ronald J. DeMarce
Co-Owner and Funeral Director
Ronald J. DeMarce began working at Sellergren-Lindell Funeral Home in 1975. Ron is a graduate of Red Oak High School, Red Oak, IA. He attended Wayne State College in Wayne, NE, before attending Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, OH, where he graduated summa cum laude. Ron returned to Sellergren-Lindell to serve his internship under Kenneth Lindell. On August 1, 1988, Ron and his wife, Sara purchased an interest in the funeral home, and January 2, 1991, purchased the firm from Kenneth and Delores Lindell. Ron is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, currently serving as a Board of Governor, and a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. He volunteers his time with many community and civic organizations, including: Kiwanis, serving several terms as President; Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Court of Honor, serving three terms as Chairman; and on the Montgomery County Family YMCA Endowment Committee. In 2020, Ron was honored by receiving his 40-year licensed pin. Ron and Sara have sons, Rylee DeMarce and fiancee, Melissa and her daughters: Maddie, Rilee and Emma, and Rudee DeMarce and wife, Jessica and their sons: Carter, Crew and Cillian.
Sara L. DeMarce
Co-Owner
Sara L. DeMarce graduated from Red Oak High School, Red Oak, Iowa. She attended Mid-American Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, and worked for an area dentist for 6 years. Ron and Sara were married in 1983, in Red Oak. In 1988, she began assisting at the funeral home. Over the years, Sara has been a community volunteer. She is a member and past president of P.E.O. Chapter HB, the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary having served as President, on the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and Red Oak Public Library Board. Sara has donated 25 years to the American Cancer Society, 3 years as a county board member and 22 years as Daffodil Days Chairperson. She attended Community Bible Study's Southwest Iowa Class, where she served 15 years as Coordinator. Sara enjoys tennis and has been a doubles player for ROTA and YMCA tennis leagues. She has been involved with many other community, school and church activities and events over the years. Sara and Ron have two sons, Rylee DeMarce and fiancee, Melissa and her daughters: Maddie, Rilee and Emma, and Rudee DeMarce and wife, Jessica and their sons: Carter, Crew and Cillian. She loves watching her 3 grandsons as often as she can.
Rudee P. DeMarce
Funeral Director
Rudee P. DeMarce graduated with honors from Red Oak High School, Red Oak, IA. He attended Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO, before graduating cum laude and earning his Bachelors Degree from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, OH. While at CCMS, Rudee was awarded the Charles O Dhonau, Memorial Embalming Award in Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in the Combined Theory and Practice of Embalming. He served and completed his internship at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home and is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association. While Rudee works full-time for St. Croix Hospice, he continues his license and helps at the funeral home when needed. Rudee and his wife, Jessica have 3 sons: Carter, Crew and Cillian, two English cream retrievers, Cub and Gus, and farm kitty, Dirt Bike.
Marlys Conrad
Support Staff
Marlys is a native of Pipestone, Minnesota, coming to Red Oak in 1967 to teach music in the Red Oak Schools. She graduated from Morningside College in 1967 with a degree in Music Education. Since that time, she has accrued advanced degree hours from Drake University, Morningside College, and Northwest Missouri State for continuing education. She retired in 2005, after teaching music for 38 years. Marlys is active in music throughout the community, playing in the orchestra for "Sound of Music" at the Wilson Performing Arts Center in 2009, studying violin with Strings Unlimited to the present day, and playing piano and singing in the choir at the Red Oak Presbyterian Church. She is also and avid Bridge player. Marlys and her husband, Joe, have two children, Sarah and Derek, and 7 grandchildren. She has been employed at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home since September 2006.
Rylee DeMarce
Support Staff and Funeral Assistant
Bio to follow.
