Funeral services for Orven L. Severson, 93, of Hettinger, ND will be Friday, November 5, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hettinger Lutheran Church with Rev. Kathleen Dettmann, officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery.

Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the service at the Church on Friday morning.

Orven LeRoy Severson was born on July 25, 1917 at the family home one mile south of the ND/SD state line off Highway 75 in Perkins County. His mom was sure that it was the hottest day in history. He was the only son of Elmer and Agnes (Tobiason) Severson. He was Baptized and Confirmed in the Hettinger Lutheran Church of which he was a lifetime member. He attended the West Grand River through the 8th grade and attended Hettinger High School for two years.


On January 5, 1937 he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Mystic, South Dakota and worked as a Tool Custodian and Rock Crusher. He had excellent reviews and his Project Supervisor stated, "Severson is considerably above the average workman and has shown leadership ability." He was discharged on March 31, 1938. After discharge, he helped on the family farm and worked at various places in Hettinger including Snyder's Bakery and Schwindels Hardware Store.


On February 26, 1942, Orven enlisted in the US Navy. He attended Aviation Ordinance School and was classified as an Aviation Ordinanceman First Class. He served in Guadalcanal in the South Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged on October 15, 1945.


On August 16, 1944 he was united in marriage to Clara Theressa Redahl in Miles City, Montana where Clara was teaching third grade. They moved to Hollister, California so that Orven could finish his tour, and then moved back to the Severson Farm where they lived and raised their four children. His nephews, Wally and Jerry Bartling worked on the ranch with him and other nieces and nephews spent many hours enjoying Uncle Orven.


Orven was kept busy, not only farming, but also serving on the Grand River School Board and being the Director of the Grand River Grazing Association. He also served as Deacon for several years at Hettinger Lutheran Church. He was a member of the American Legion, the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Forty & Eight, and the Masonic Lodge. He was also Rainbow Dad for several years. He was moonlighter, working with Joe Manning installing TV antennas and working as one of Joe's bartenders when the Country Club was established. In his later years of farming, he partnered with Don Gustin working with him until Orven retired.


After retirement in 1985, he and Clara moved to an apartment in town and enjoyed traveling by car and taking bus tours to many places in the lower 48. They also spent time in Hawaii and Germany. He kept busy fishing with his family and friends, puttering around on the farm and helping his renters, Evanson Angus, with whatever he could do.


In May of 2003, when he no longer was able to see enough to drive, his daughter Sandi, came to be his "seeing eye kid" and caregiver. She was privileged to be able to be with him until the end of July 2010. He was taken to the VA in Sturgis on August 1, 2010 and remained there until his death. He will be remembered as a good and kind man with a wry sense of humor.


Orven passed away at the Fort Meade VA Hospital near Sturgis, SD on October 28, 2010.

He is survived by his children--Patricia Renli, Sandra Hauge, Erle (Karin) Severson, and Dale (Connie) Severson; seven grandchildren, Douglas Hauge, Marie Renli, Tony (JJ) Renli, Dr. Rustin (Lynn) Hauge, Natalie (Ryan) Hauge Albert, Laura (Ryan) Hauge Brown, and Nicole (Randy) Severson Kaiser, and 6 great grandchildren--Elisheva Siegfried, Kirsten Albert, Maya Albert, Brandon Albert, Nathan Albert, and Soren Brown. Also surviving him are his sister, Julie Kvanvig, Hettinger, ND, many nieces and nephews, and wonderful friends.


Preceding him in death were his parents, sisters Earlene and Elsie, and his wife, Clara.