Clarice D Severson

Clarice D. (Mrs. Harry) Severson, age 86, died peacefully surrounded by many family members on Saturday morning, April 28, 2012 in the Golden Living Center at Clark. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 from 5-7PM at the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark and will continue at the Church on Wednesday at noon until service time. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 2PM in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark with The Reverend Robin Schaunaman officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. The organist will be Dorothy Fuller with Roger Nordhus as soloist. The honorary casketbearers will be Clarice's granddaughters and the great-grandchildren. The active casketbearers will be her grandsons. She was born Clarice Darlene Christianson on March 22, 1926, near Naples, S.D., to Ingvald and Lena (Pederson) Christianson. Clarice later moved with her parents, brother and sisters to a farm south of Elrod, where she completed all of her elementary education. She was senior class president and graduated from Henry High School in 1944. Following high school, Clarice attended the Watertown Beauty Academy, where she became an instructor until her marriage. She was baptized, confirmed and married in the Naples Lutheran Church, and later became a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Clarice was united in marriage with Harry Severson on April 15, 1952. The couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Harry and Clarice have lived on the Severson farm in Garfield Township all of their married life. Clarice enjoyed being a homemaker and farm wife, especially gardening, canning, making lefse, raising chickens and sharing her annual abundance of apples. She was a member of the Raymond Legion Auxiliary, and Circle and WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) at St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she also taught Sunday school, made soap, quilted and each year looked forward to making meatballs for the Lutefisk Supper. Clarice enjoyed following the activities of her six children and 19 grandchildren - attending many, many sporting events, rodeos, 4-H Achievement Days, concerts, confirmations, high school and college graduations, and weddings as her family grew. She's also been blessed with 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Preceding her in death were her parents, a brother, Norris Christianson and brothers-in-law, Earl "Pat" Paulsen and Don O'Neill. Grateful for having shared in her life is her husband, children Jolene (Ron) Volek of Highmore, Terry (Cheryl) of Raymond, Brad of Sturgis, Kirk (Terri) of Clark, Candice (Lance) Mason of Doland, and Scott (Monica) of Waverly, Iowa. Grandchildren are Kyla Parrish and Allen, Billy and Eric Volek; Jennifer, Jason, Kaci, David, Lane and Cheyenne Severson; Cody and Cole Severson; Traci Smith, Michele Benike, and Jerald and Jacob Severson; Paige Hermanson and Bailley Mason; and Ryan Severson. Great-grandchildren are Shaelee Parrish, Amber Christman, Brandi Harrington, Michael Severson, Damian and Mason Severson, Cortney and Garret Smith, and Tyson and Abigail Benike, and the great-great-grandchild is Abby Christman. Clarice's surviving sisters include Ilene Paulsen, Jeanette (Harold) Hansen and Delores O'Neill of Watertown, and LaVonne (Darrell) Oleson of Owatonna, MN. Memorials would be appreciated to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family. For further information please visit www.furnessfuneralhome.com