Virgil Severtson

VIRGIL DOANE SEVERTSON was born March 24, 1921 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Peter O. and Nelia (Iverson) Severtson and was a Pipestone resident for 26 years. Virgil grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School in 1939. After graduation, he moved to Hills, Minnesota and started farming with his father on the Severtson Homestead. Virgil farmed the family's land alongside his father and later his son for 65 years.

In the early 1940s, Virgil attended and graduated from an aircraft manufacturing course in Omaha, Nebraska and went on to work at Boeing, building B-17 Flying Fortresses in Seattle, Washington. After returning to the family farm, he earned a commercial pilot's license and became an exceptional aviator, conducting charter flights all over the United States and Canada while winning a number of flying competitions and using his planes for hunting trips in his spare time. Although farming was his vocation, he was equally passionate about his avocation - the art of flying.

He married Alice Wiesner of Clear Lake, South Dakota on June 12, 1949. Together they raised five children. Virgil loved music and encouraged his family in all of their music endeavors. He was an active member of the community and a member of his church council. He was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church and was most recently a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Trosky, Minnesota.

Virgil died peacefully surrounded by loving family on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at Riverview Health Services in Flandreau, South Dakota at the age of 92 years, 9 months and 21 days.

Virgil Severtson lived a life that glorified God. He will be remembered for his warmth, sense of humor and love of life.

Virgil is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Alice Severtson; son, Lyndon Severtson of Hills; four daughters, Marie (Eddie) Crouch of Yorktown, Virginia, Yvonne (Philip) Hoffman of Colton, South Dakota, Cynthia (Marc) Aldrich of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Teresa (Jon) Klosterman of Pipestone; 11 grandchildren, Naomi, Lindsay, Nathan, Peter, Alex, Aaron, Harrison, Kiley, Allison, Kasey and Teresa; and two great-grandchildren, Madison and Wyatt. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Nelia Severtson; and his sister, Lois Morris.

The family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the staff at Riverview Health Services in Flandreau for their care and compassion shown to Dad and the family during this difficult time.

Memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America at 322 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, New York 10001.