Victoria Seckel

Victoria Brittain Seckel, age 85, passed away on April 3, 2025, in Bismarck, North Dakota

Victoria was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 2, 1939, and lived a full life. She graduated from Goucher College in Maryland in 1961, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Child Development, with minors in Music and Religion. After marrying later that same summer, Victoria moved to Newark, Ohio, where she and her husband began their family. In 1977, she returned to Pittsburgh with her two children. After the passing of her husband, she moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, in 2010 to be closer to her daughter and family. In 2023, Victoria made her home at the Benedictine Living Community, where she formed meaningful connections and found great joy, love, and a renewed sense of community in her later years. Her warmth and kindness made a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Victoria had an enduring passion for music that spanned her entire life. From an early age, she was actively involved in choirs, played the piano and handbells, and had a lifelong love for all kinds of music. Along with her musical pursuits, she had a deep appreciation for literature. An avid reader, she devoured as many as 30 books a month. Her love for reading led her to join the Woman’s Literary Club of Bellevue, PA, where she enjoyed researching and presenting on a variety of subjects.

Victoria also had a remarkable sense of adventure. She traveled throughout the United States and across the globe, with unforgettable trips to Europe and Russia. No matter where she went, she kept an extensive journal of her experiences and sight-seeing.

Above all, Victoria’s greatest love was for her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Victoria is survived by her daughter Sandra (Wayne) Helm; granddaughters Emily and Ella Helm; daughter-in-law Sondra Payne; grandchildren Annika and Anderson Payne; grandson Brandon (Mandie) Payne; great-granddaughter Parker Payne; sister Elizabeth (Tom) Braun; nephew Rafe (Lisa) Knox; nieces Heather Knox, Phoebe (Brett Minarik) Fraser; and many extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Jeffrey Franklin Payne; sister Alexandra Knox; and her parents, Raymond and Mary Brittain.

A private memorial service and burial will be held in Sewickley, PA, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Benedictine Living Community in Bismarck, ND, in honor of Victoria's life and the happiness she found there.