Kenneth Pershing SEVERSON

SEVERSON, GUNDERSON, LEONARD, MARSHALL, GORTON, SCRIBNER, GERMAN, MAASDAM, LENZ, LYNCH, WION, CHAUNCEY, CHRISTENSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/8/2008 at 16:55:18

BELMOND - Kenneth P. Severson, 89, a life-long farmer and resident of rural Belmond, died Tuesday (Feb. 6, 2008) at his home in rural Belmond after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by the love and care of his family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today (Feb. 8) at St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond with the Rev. Lowell H. Halvorson, officiating. Burial will be in the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E. in Belmond, will continue one hour prior to the service today at the church. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Kenneth's name may wish to consider the St. Olaf Lutheran Church or a memorial of their own choice.

Kenneth Pershing Severson, the son of Knute and Alma (Gunderson) Severson, was born Sept. 26, 1918, on his parents' farm in rural Thor, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond, where he was an active and lifelong member. Ken received his education in rural school Belmond No. 9. Kenneth was united in marriage to Icle Leonard on June 6, 1940, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Their marriage was blessed with one son, Sidney. Kenneth farmed for more than 60 years in Belmond and Grant townships. Although he retired from farming full-time in his later years, he continued to assist his son in farming operations, and later his grandson, Troy. Ken could still be found helping with the farming tasks this past summer until his health began to decline. He was an active member of the St. Olaf Church, where he held various offices and sang in the men's chorus. He was a longtime board member of both the Wright County REC and the Clarion Co-op. He and Icle enjoyed wintering for many years in Mesa, Ariz., where he shared his vocal talents in a men's chorus there as well. They had also enjoyed traveling on various other trips including a memorable journey to Norway in 1974.

In more recent years following the passing of his wife, Icle, he enjoyed the friendship and cameraderie of longtime neighbor and special friend, Kay Marshall. Kenneth also very much enjoyed times spent with his family and friends. Those who will cherish the memory of Kenneth's life include his son, Sid, and his wife, Sherry, of Clarion; grandchildren, Troy Severson and his wife, Beth, and their children, Allison, Clayton and Knuton Severson, of Belmond; Traci Gorton and and her children, Alaina and Landon, of Corinth, Texas; Tanya Scribner and her husband, Ken, and their children, Paige Icle and Jarrett, of Sanger, Texas; step-grandchildren, Johnathan German and his wife Jenna, of Belmond, and their children, Desiree and Ethan; and Nicholas German and his wife, Stacy, and their children, Paige and Justin, of Clarion; Ryan Maasdam and his wife, Shannon, and their son, Austin, of Clarion; one sister, Elaine Lenz, of Mason City; longtime friend and neighbor, Kay Marshall, of Clarion; and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Icle, on April 7, 1997; four sisters, Myrtle Chauncey, Leila Wion, Betty Lynch and Kathryn Christenson; and one brother, Sanford Severson. Andrews Funeral Home.

Mason City Globe Gazette
February 6, 2008