Zella C. Severson 1914-2010

SEVERSON WATERS UNDERWOOD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/16/2011 at 00:43:23

Sioux City Journal
23 June 2010

SIOUX CITY -- Zella C. Severson, 96, joined her husband, Chris Severson, her parents, brothers and sisters in joyful reunion with the heavenly father, Saturday, June 19, 2010. After 96 years of helping and caring for others, her work here is finished and her best friend has taken her home. Her family is thankful for being able to share her love for so long. We rejoice in knowing she is happy and at rest.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Morningside Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. A luncheon will be served at the church following the interment. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday at Becker-Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City.

Mom was born March 3, 1914, in Winnebago, Neb., to Guy and Carrie (Waters) Underwood. The seventh of four sons and four daughters, the family was very poor and always moving. She barely finished the eighth grade.

She worked as a hired girl until she married Chris Severson on March 9, 1932, in Elk Point, S.D. After 52 years, Dad passed away July 1, 1984, in Sioux City. They raised son, Phillip, and daughter, Carrol. To help family income, Mom worked as a nurse's aide in the local hospitals and earned her certificate to be a licensed practical nurse in 1950. She worked in her profession at the Winnebago, Neb., Indian Hospital, hospitals in Denver, Colo., and in Sioux City until she retired.

She made many friends and lived independently at Centennial Manor until last year when she went to Holy Spirit and enjoyed their excellent care.

Mom was the last of her family. She is survived by son, Phillip (Erma) Severson; daughter, Carrol A. (Jack) Snodgrass; grandchildren, Paul and Lisa Severson, Joe Snodgrass and Chrisy Parsons; two great-grandsons; six great-granddaughters; many loving nieces and nephews; and a host of friends who will miss her greatly.

Pallbearers will be nephews, grandnephews and great-grandnephews, Dan and Robert Johnson, Rollie Rector, Seth Kading, Spencer and Taylor Johnson.

Memorials may be directed to the family for distribution.