Clayton M. Severson

The funeral service for Clayton M. Severson, 93, of Rochester,MN, will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday (April 7, 2018) at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Stewartville,MN with Rev. Paul Langmade officiating. Burial will follow at East St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery in Rock Dell,MN. Mr. Severson died on Wednesday (March 28, 2018) of natural causes at Meadow Lakes Senior Living in Rochester, where he had been a resident since April of 2017.

Clayton Merlin Severson was born on January 8, 1925 in Rock Dell Twsp. , Olmsted County,MN to Martin and Charlotte "Getta" (Spiten) Severson. He grew up on the family farm, attended Julson Schoolhouse to the 8th grade and then began farming with his family. He later earned his G.E.D. Clayton was married on September 13, 1945 at East St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Rock Dell to Ione E. Yngsdal. Following their marriage the couple moved to Rock Dell Twsp. where they farmed for 50 years, raised their family and continued to make their home. Clayton was employed at IBM in Rochester in 1957 until his retirement in 1987. Ione was a farmwife and homemaker and was employed at IBM from 1971 until she retired with Clayton in 1987. After the sale of their farm they moved to Stewartville where they lived for a number of years before moving to Rochester in 2007. Mrs. Severson died on November 14, 2011. Clayton was a longtime active member of E. St. Olaf Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday School and served as a Deacon. After moving to Stewartville, the Seversons began attending Sunday services at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Stewartville. Clayton was an accomplished woodworker who enjoyed creating carvings of people's names and then giving to them as a gift. He spent many hours in his woodworking shops in Stewartville and then Rochester. He and Ione enjoyed traveling, from bus trips to Branson to an overseas trip to Norway. He enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors, time spent with family and especially enjoyed following his grandkids sports and school activities.

Clayton is survived by 3 daughters - Mary Jo(Thomas) Strain of rural Millville; Patricia Cote of Fremont,CA and Susan(Dana) Haakenson of rural Pine Island; 7 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife - Ione, his parents, a brother - Virgil Severson, an infant sister - Phyllis and two infant grandsons.

A time of visitation for family and friends will take place 1 hr. prior to the service at the church on Saturday morning (April 7, 2018). The Severson Family suggests memorials to E. St. Olaf Cemetery Assn. or Seasons Hospice in Rochester,Mn.

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