Obit: Severt, Norman E. (1909 - 2008)

 
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Severt, Blum, Rauch, Sievert, Sommerfeldt, Rasmussen, Moe, Cole, Laabs

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Tues., 4 Nov. 2008

Severt, Norman E. (31 May 1909 - 27 Oct. 2008)

Norman E. Severt, 99, died in Phillips, Oct. 27, 2008. He was born May 31, 1909, in Auburndale. On Sept. 22, 1934, Norman married Irene Luella Blum, daughter of John and Phillipena Rauch Blum of Marshfield. They were married in Winona, Minn., and were married for 48 years before Irene died in Fifield on Aug. 14, 1982.

During his early years, World War I was raging and he witnessed the last of the Indian pow-wows held on "Skunk Hill" near Arpin, and he retold those stories and memories all of his life. He was a whiskey runner during prohibition, thinking a kid would be the last person the "Feds" would suspect. Just when he was to strike out on his own, the Great Depression began with the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the frugalness he developed to survive endured throughout his life.

Railroads were central to his life as both his father (Otto August Albert Sievert) and grandfather (Albert Sievert) worked for the railroad. In 1926, he began his first job working for his father on the section gang. With sons John and Douglas, Norman and Irene moved to Fifield, where the Soo Line Railroad had transferred him as Section Foreman. World War II was ongoing and all supplies were rationed but shortages didn't stop him from building a new home on Linden Avenue, where he and Irene spent the next 48 years building and nurturing a family. They had four additional children; twins who died in infancy and Susan and Russell.

After the death of his beloved wife, Irene, on Aug. 14, 1982, he attended a hometown centennial in Arpin, where he met Verona Peterich Cole, who he had known and dated in his early years. Norman and Verona were married May 26, 1984, in Wisconsin Rapids and they continued their storybook romance for 22 years until Verona's death on May 18, 2006.

Norman is survived by his children, John (Carol) and Russell (Jackie) of Fifield and Douglas (Joyce) of Oklahoma City; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Ida Sommerfelt Severt; brothers, Roy and Emil; and sister, Ethel Rasmussen; his first wife, Irene Blum; twins, Joan Marie and Judy Ann; and Susan Gail Moe (Dennis); and his second wife, Verona Peterich Cole.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. for friends and family and the funeral service will begin at 3 p.m., Nov. 8, 2008, at the Fifield First Congregational Church with Pastor Mary Jo Laabs officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Home Cemetery in Fifield and a luncheon hosted by the First Congregational Ladies Aid will follow.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the church and/or Fifield Volunteer Fire Department in memory of Norman. The Novitzke Funeral Home, Park Falls, is handling the arrangements.

Our family wishes to thank Aspirus Pleasant View in Phillips, for the outstanding kindness, attention and care they provided Norman over the past two years.