Martin Severson (1877-1940)

SEVERSON, NELSON, ZENOR, JONES, HUSER, SEXY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/11/2024 at 13:10:44

From The Slater News November 7, 1940 (page 1)

Martin Severson Called by Death

Martin Severson, who was a citizen of Slater for many years died very suddenly Sunday at 4 a. m. at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Huser, near Cambridge. Death was attributed to a stroke of apoplexy. He had assisted with the work on the farm Saturday. About four o'clock in the morning members of the family were attracted to his bedside by his heavy breathing. A moment later he was dead. Mr. Severson was 63 years of age.

Funeral rites for the deceased were held yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon from the Riis Funeral Home at 1:30 and the Hauges church at two o'clock, with Rev. E. R. Rorem in charge.

There were brief services at the home. At the church the pastor took his text from John 6:37--"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." There were two vocal numbers, "When They Ring the Golden Bells" and "Some day He will make it plain to Me," both sung by Louis Malmin. He was accompanied by Miss Norma Sydnes on the piano. Miss Virginia Sydnes presided at the piano at the opening and closing services.

There were many beautiful floral pieces, remembrances from neighbors, relatives and friends. There were also a number of gifts to the missions in memory of the deceased.

Long-time friends served as pallbearers. They were Swan Johnson, Dr. R. G. Nott, Archie Peterson, Bert Clark, Bert Sutter and Andrew Maland.

Burial was made in the family lot in the Slater cemetery.

Martin Severson was born at Bergen, Norway, Aug. 9, 1877. There he grew to manhood. He came to America in the spring of 1896, settling at Cambridge. He spent several years in the vicinity of the Palestine church, where he worked in different capacities.

In 1900 he was united in marriage to Miss Mathilda Nelson, of Thronhjem, Norway, a friend from boyhood days. After a brief stay in the Cambridge community they took up their residence near Slater. After several years they located in Slater, where he worked in various capacities till he bought Jess Gord's dray line, aa business which he followed for 21 years--till eight years ago when he retired to live with his children.

The writer will never forget the familiar sight of Mr. Severson's dray wagon on its way from the depot to the business district. The wagon would be loaded to capacity and Mr. Severson would stand on the small platform at the rear. In those days, when Slater boasted one or two of the finest dry-goods stores in the country and everything was shipped by rail, the old dray wagon made many trips back and forth. Mr. Severson was a faithful worker and lost little time during business. He had lived to see many changes in our town--from the old "horse and buggy days" to the present era of transportation.

His wife died in 1910 after a brief illness. Mourning the loss with him were four children, three daughters and a son. While thus left alone with the children, he continued to maintain the home during the years that followed, till they were all grown up.

Mr. Severson served Slater as town marshal for a number of years. He was an honest man and good citizen and will be missed by many relatives and old friends.

He is survived by a son, Joel Severson of Slater, and three daughters, as follows; Mrs. Frank Zenor of Slater; Mrs. Norman Jones of Des Moines and Mrs. George Huser of south of Cambridge. Also a brother, Sigurd, of Kelley and a sister, Mrs. Harvey Sexy, of Humboldt, Ia., and 11 grandchildren.