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Fern Lucille (Ohnell) Severance • 1922- 2011 She was proud of her Scandinavian heritage as her father and two of his brothers sailed from Sweden to the United States as young men to be pioneer farmers. She herded cattle on horseback and enjoyed the outdoor farm life around Berthold. She graduated from Berthold High School in 1941 after which she worked at Alm’s Dairy in Minot and continued to make her famous milkshakes for many years! She is also remembered for making homemade buns, cinnamon rolls, lemon bars, and for Sunday dinners with her fried chicken. She married Raymond W. Severance of Ryder, ND on May 14, 1944. For more than 50 years, they shared the grain farming and cattle responsibilities as they raised their four children near Ryder. Fern also enjoyed her vegetable gardens, indoor and outdoor flowers, cutting grass with her riding lawn mower, butchering chickens, getting a skunk, badger and pigeons with her .22 rifle, fields of ripe grain, family meals served in the harvest and hay fields, the cats, her manual typewriter, playing the piano especially the Blue Skirt Waltz, and her bowling and golf leagues in Minot. She was a lifelong member of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Ladies Aid, Busy Bee Homemakers, and Home Economics Club and enjoyed educational meetings and friendships with other women. She was creative, innovative, a quintessential homemaker/mother of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, designed and finished all the birch hardwood cupboards built into her kitchen, dining room and bathroom. She also enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, sewing, patching, making round potholders, and made polyester fabric quilts for her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her children Sharon (J. Budd) Hovey of Great Falls, MT; Sharleen Larson of Minot; Hal (Jeanna) Severance of Garrison; and Jan (Sally) Severance of Ryder; son-in-law, Micheal Larson, Minot; daughter-in-law, Kandis Horn, Ryder; grandchildren Chad, Erik (Elaine), and Greg Hovey; Shawna (Rick) Schenfisch, Christopher (Denise) Larson, Jaime (Blair) Haaland; Clint (Nicole), Colin and Casey (Stephanie) Severance; Robyn (Shane) Martin, Ryan (Marlys), Randy and Rod (Carrie) Severance; step-grandchildren Carly, Sierra and Gabe Lassila; and great-grandchildren Ella, Anna and Tyler; Charlee and Jericka; Max and Parker; Kayleigh, Ben and Blake; Nolan and Nora; Aliyah, Sierra, Matthew and Sawyer; and Carter. She was preceded in death by her husband (Jan. 30, 1924 - Dec. 11, 1996) and siblings Evelyn Dix, Marion Huso Niebauer, Mildred in childhood, Millard Ohnell, Doris Pettys and Gail Johnson. The family expresses gratitude to her caregivers: Maureen Hagen, Jan Hansen and Joann Johnson and their families. Appreciation is also extended to Micheal Larson. Funeral Services under the direction of Pastor Jonathan Starks will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, June 2nd, 2011, at the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Ryder, ND, with burial next to her husband at the Rosehill Cemetery in Ryder. Lunch will be served at the church following the service. Visitation will take place on Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to her church. Officiant: Pastor Jonathan Starks Music: Congregational Hymns; Honorary Bearers: Fern’s family and friends Active Bearers: All of Fern’s Grandchildren Following the graveside service, please join the family for a time of fellowship and lunch in the lower level of the church. Our family would like to thank all of you for your many acts of kindness. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated during this difficult time. We would also like to express our gratitude to her caregivers: Maureen Hagen, Jan Hansen and Joann Johnson and their families. Appreciation is also extended to Micheal Larson.
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Fern Lucille (Ohnell) Severance died May 28, 2011 of natural causes at her assisted-living home near Ryder. She was born on August 21, 1922 as the fifth of seven children born to Fritz and Celia (Neshem) Ohnell near Berthold, ND.