SEVERSON, Leighton 1917-1999

SEVERSON

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 2/21/2011 at 19:20:00

LEIGHTON ELLSWORTH SEVERSON

NORTHWOOD - Leighton Ellsworth Severson, 82, of Northwood, died Wednesday (Dec. 8, 1999) at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the First Lutheran Church, 309 N. Ninth St., Northwood, with the Rev. Paul A. Holmer and the Rev. Allan J. Stoa officiating. Burial will be in the South Shell Rock Cemetery, rural Northwood.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. today and one hour prior to time of services on Friday at the church.

Conner Colonial Chapel in Northwood is in charge of arrangements.

Leighton Ellsworth Severson Sr. was born on Feb. 20, 1917, at the home of his parents, Clarence and Julia (Tue) Severson, southwest of Northwood.

He was baptized at South Shell Rock Lutheran Church and reaffirmed the faith of his baptism through confirmation in the North Shell Rock Lutheran Church. In later years he attended First Lutheran Church in Northwood. He attended and received his grade school education at the Kensett #3 schools and graduated from Northwood High School.

He was united in marriage to Mabel Marie Ellingson on Dec. 31, 1938, at his parents' home. He farmed all of his life southwest of Northwood until 1974, when he retired and worked for Ralph Harris until he retired in 1992.

He and his wife, Mabel, were caretakers of the South Shell Rock and State Line cemeteries for 20 years, taking great pride in their work.

He was active in the church from his youth and served on many committees. He was president of Worth County Farm Bureau for two terms. He also served on various other committees in the community.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mabel Severson, of Northwood; daughter, Myra Harris and her husband, Lonnie; son, Lee Severson Jr. and his wife, Marilyn, all of Northwood; daughter, Judy Johnson, of Stewartville, Minn.; and son, Clair Severson and his wife, Linda, of Hastings, Minn.; also left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren, Rhonda Athey, Suzan Waller and her husband, Brian, Jerry Harris and his wife, Jill, Roger Harris and his wife, Laurie, Randy Severson and his wife, Nancy, Scott Severson and his wife, Tamara, Ryan Severson and his wife, Jeri, Mark Severson, Mitch Johnson, Rachel and Andrea Severson; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; two sisters, Crystal J. Nelson and Leona Kenison and her husband, Keith; as well as many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Art Nelson.

Conner Colonial Chapel, (515) 324-1543.

Globe Gazette, Dec. 9, 1999