Paul R. Severson, age 76, of Canby, MN passed away Monday, April 18, 2022 at the Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby. Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN with Rev. Levi Bollerud officiating. Visitation will be held Monday one hour prior to the service at the church. The Houseman Funeral Home – Birk Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Paul Richard Severson was born on June 26, 1945, to Palmer and Bernice (Jesme) Severson in Canby, Minnesota. He grew up on a farm in Gary, SD and graduated from Gary High School in 1963. Paul met Norma Miller from Canby and the two were united in marriage when they were both just 19. Following their marriage, they moved to Iowa where Paul attended a computer school. They moved around as a family as they followed Paul’s job working for the Coast-to-Coast hardware store company. In 1980, Paul and Norma bought the Coast-to-Coast hardware store in Canby (currently True Value now) and owned it until their retirement in 2010. They lived on a small 40-acre hobby farm North of Canby for most of the time they owned the store and until Paul’s health problems about 2 1/2 years ago. Paul passed away on Monday, April 18, 2022, at the Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby at the age of 76. He loved horses and had many from his childhood and throughout his life. He had a soft spot for all animals though. Their first dog was abandoned in a box which Paul couldn’t leave it there. He picked up an injured cat along the road one day and brought it home also. If a bird had built a nest and had eggs because the garage door was left open, he would leave the garage door open until the birds had hatched and left. There were many times when the store was closed at night or on a Sunday and someone would call needing paint, plumbing supplies, or something else from the store. He would always go in and help get them what they needed. He also enjoyed doing things with his hands around home and worked on old tractors, cars, and did some woodworking later in life. He enjoyed games of any kind from Wednesday night pool league to throwing a few darts, he could be found doing the crossword puzzle every morning at work. He also enjoyed playing cards at family events, even Sunday afternoon cruises with friends for a bit of video lottery. When he wasn’t looking for a game to play, he would be home with a good book or sitting outside planning his next project, whether it was a torn apart tractor or a new shelf to be made, or even replacing a roof. He was a farmer at heart as well as a businessman, as he had many horses over the years which he loved to ride. He was never a loud man, but if you listened closely, he always had smile and a comment to make you laugh. He will be missed by not only his family but the many people of Canby he touched throughout his life.
Paul is survived by his wife Norma Severson; two children: Rob Severson and Paula (Todd Voss) Kontz; one granddaughter Shelby (Zac) Frank; one great-grandson Palmer Frank; one brother Elroy Severson and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Palmer and Bernice Severson, brother Duane (Connie) Severson and sister-in-law Delores Severson and many aunts and uncles.
