In loving memory of
Sylvia Ada Severson
December 13, 1915 - December 13, 2005
Sylvia Ada Severson, age 90 of Forest City, died Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City, Iowa. Funeral service will be Saturday, December 17 at 2:00 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Barb Spaulding officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM at the church until the time of service.
Sylvia Ada Severson was born on a farm in Grant Township, Winnebago County, Iowa on December 13, 1915, the daughter of Ole. G. and Gerda (Gjerde) Hanna. She received her education in rural schools near her home and graduated from Forest City High School in 1934. After receiving her Normal Training, she began teaching in country schools in Ellington Township and Grant Township.
She married Ray Haugen on August 12, 1939. The couple lived on a farm east of Forest City where they raised hogs, cattle and horses. During this time, Sylvia was active in the Rainbow Trail Riders. She loved animals and especially enjoyed her horses. Ray died in 1973.
On June 5, 1976, Sylvia was united in marriage to Orle Severson. Sylvia was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. She was a talented china-painter and shared this talent with others. For nearly 50 years she taught china painting classes to area women, often holding classes every day. She loved to travel and spent 26 years wintering in Mission, Texas with Orle.
She entered the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City on November 1, 2002. She died at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa on December 13, 2005 at the age of 90 years.
Sylvia is survived by her step-children: Jerry (Mary Lou) Severson of McDonough, GA, Marilyn (Ed) Hrubes of Henderson, NV and Dennis (Cathy) Severson of Eagan, MN; six grandchildren, Jeff Hrubes of Cedar Rapids, Greg Hrubes of Henderson, NV, Diana Severson of Atlanta, GA, Sara (Chris) Wier of Shakopee, MN, Erin Severson of Eagan, MN and Lindsay Severson of Eagan, MN; two great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Cole Hrubes of Cedar Rapids. Also surviving is a sister, Virginia Wessels of Forest City and three sisters-in-law: Lois Hanna of Woden, Virginia Meinecke of Leland and Cleora Severson of Escalon, CA.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Ray and Orle and two brothers, Alvin and Gordon Hanna.