Zella Severson

Zella Mae ( Altenburg) Severson of Longmont died Friday, October 30, 2015, at Longmont United Hospital. She was 84. Born February 23, 1931, in Sanborn, North Dakota, she was the youngest child of James Sr., and Alice Altenburg. At age 10, her father was killed in a trucking accident, and at age 12, her mother died of cancer making her an orphan. She and her brother then went to live with an aunt and uncle on a farm in North Dakota. She graduated from Sanborn High School in 1949 and after graduation headed out west to California to work and stay with her sister, Betty. On July 21, 1951, she married Paul Severson in San Diego, California. They moved to Washington, D.C., and then to Iowa for Paul’s teaching jobs while Zella worked as a telephone operation, secretary, seamstress and homemaker helping raise six children over the years. In 1977, she and Paul moved to Longmont, Colorado, from Forest City, Iowa, and started a new chapter in their lives. Zella loved to knit and crochet and made thousands of baby caps and baby booties which were donated by the Knit and Purl group to various charities. She was an avid reader and she enjoyed doing puzzles. Zella took pride in her flower gardens in both Iowa and Colorado. She and Paul had the travel bug and traveled to many places in the U. S. and overseas. Zella was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, Iowa. After she and Paul moved to Longmont, they became members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. After Paul’s death, Zella changed churches and became of member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church as she didn’t drive and this church offered a bus to pick her up for Sunday Church Services. Survivors include; Daughters: Susan (Charles) Smith, Miles City, MT, Nancy Shafer, Puyallup, WA, Marsha Campbell, Puyallup, WA; Son: Steven (Penny) Severson, Edmond, OK; Grandchildren: Matthew Smith, Lisa Smith, Katie (Austin) Troyer, Brandi (Justin) Ross, Ashley Shafer, Deziree Ferrin, Skylar Severson; Great-Grandchildren: Brantley, Hailee, Logan, Lililth, Kaylianne. Zella was preceded in death by her Husband Paul; Infant Son, David; Daughter, Kathy; Sisters, Betty and Edith; Brother, James Severson, Jr. A Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2015, Carroll-Lewellen Funeral Home Chapel, 503 Terry St., Longmont, CO. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, November 4, 2015, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 803 3rd Ave., Longmont, CO 80501. A Gathering and Reception will follow the Service in the Friendship Center at the Church. Burial will follow the reception at 1:00 pm, Mountain View Cemetery, Longmont, CO. Service Information A service summary is not available