Clinton Severson, age 92, of rural Gary, SD passed away on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at Avantara Care Center in Watertown, SD. Funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Monday, June 9th at the East Highland Lutheran Church, rural Brandt, SD. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7pm on Sunday, June 8th at the Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake, SD. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at the East Highland Lutheran Church Cemetery. Houseman Funeral Home of Clear Lake, SD has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Clinton O’Dell Severson was born in Canby, Minnesota on September 13, 1932 to parents Clarence and Alta (Risdahl) Severson. He was raised on the Severson family farm south of Gary, South Dakota. Clinton graduated from Astoria High School in 1950 and was later drafted into the US Army during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge he returned home to farm with his father and later purchased the farm to continue the family tradition. On March 20, 1960 Clinton was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Iverson at the East Highland Lutheran Church and to this union they were blessed with three children: Ricky, Rhonda and Tracy. Together they raised their family on the Severson family dairy farm that has been in the family for over 125 years. He is smiling knowing the 6th generation Severson is still farming the ground and raising beef cattle. Clinton helped out on the farm by driving tractor until June of 2020 when he moved to the nursing home to be with Shirley. Clinton enjoyed family vacations to the South Dakota State Fair and Charlie Pride concerts. He had a real love for old country music, and you could always catch him watching his favorite show ‘HeeHaw’ with the volume turned way up. Clinton loved cheering on the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. Going to races, playing cards and dancing was something Clinton really enjoyed. Clinton served on the board of directors for the Deuel County Farmers Union in the 1980’s for 9 years and was a Norden Township Supervisor for countless years. In their retirement years, Clinton and Shriley delivered the Coteau Shopper for so long that they wore out two white pickups in the span of over 20 years. He was a lifetime member of the East Highland Lutheran Church where he was baptized, confirmed and married. He was also a member of the Peden-Cole American Legion, Post 109 in Gary, SD.
Grateful for having shared Clinton’s life are his children: Ricky (Jodi) Severson, Gary, SD, Rhonda (Jon) Weeks, Ellsworth, Maine and Tracy (Roxane) Severson, Watertown, SD; his grandchildren: Ryan (Casey) Severson, Nicki (Scott) Bauman, Jack Weeks, Jeff Weeks, Misty (Matt) Bekaert, Dustin Schlosser, Tanner (Elisabeth Pietz) Severson, Taylor (Alex) Sumption; his great-grandchildren: Griffin, Graci, Molly and Maverik Severson, Skylar, Matte and Evan Bauman, Destiny and Lee Bekaert and Lincoln Schlosser; his sister, LaVonne Severson. He is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Shirley; his parents; his in-laws, Thor and Hazel (Johnson) Iverson; one brother and sister-in-law, Arnie (Karin) Severson and brother-in-law, Loren Severson.
