Raymond Henry Severson

Raymond Henry Severson was called home on Monday Oct 8, 2018. Ray age 96 passed peacefully surrounded by family and his wonderful caregiver, Sofia.
Ray was the firstborn of 7 children to Henry George and Paula (Johnson) Severson. He was born at Camps Maternity Hospital Fargo ND Mar 31, 1922.
In 1937 during The Great Depression, living in a small house with so many mouths to feed, Ray left school in the 10th grade to go out and take care of himself. He apprenticed with a watch maker learning to take them apart, clean them & put them together. At 17 he joined the CCC’s fence crew in Middle River MN. He got his PHD “posthole digger”, fencing the Mud Lake game reserve. He signed up for a 2nd stint with the CCC’s planting trees, building roads, fighting fires in Black Hills SD.

Moving to Los Angeles CA in 1941 he worked for Vega Aircraft for a year before joining the Navy. He became an Aviation Metalsmith repairing aircraft fuel cells.

Ray served dutifully aboard the US Navy Ship General S. B. Buckner. He was stationed on Guam in WWII when the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Honorably discharged when the war ended, he joined the Naval Reserve. In 1948 he earned his private pilot’s license. The Korean conflict started and he was recalled to active duty. He was stationed at Sangley Point, Cavite City, Philippine Islands. They had PBM boats patrolling the China coast. Here he met the love of his life, Anna. The Navy frowned on marrying the locals. He was honorably discharged again. Saving for 2 years he returned to marry Anna in Pasay City. Son, William was born in Cavite. After a lot of red tape, he was able to bring his wife and son home to Fargo ND. He was honorably discharged from the Naval Reserve in 1956. They moved to North Moorhead MN where daughter Linda was born. In 1969 they moved to South Fargo ND. His beloved Anna died in a car accident in 2007. The last few years he lived in the care of a V.A. Foster Home in Moorhead MN.

Ray was an avid golfer. In his 60’s he was on Jim Adelson’s TV KXJB Hole-In-One contest a few times. He won closest to the hole, and the putting contest on his last show. He played many years with the Senior Tour. His children and grandchildren enjoyed being his caddies. Ray also loved to bowl and won 1st place in the 1979 All City Tournament still listed in the record books. Spending time with family and friends was important.

Family cherished time playing cards, Mah Jong or trying to return his wild spinning serve in Ping Pong. Many family vacations were spent together at the lakes. Ray loved to fish. He also loved to garden and had beautiful flowers and shared his fruits and vegetables with everyone.

Ray worked for different companies as a Steamfitter in the Plumbers Union. In 1960 while working for NSP, a crew was demolishing the closed Natural Gas manufacturing plant in downtown Fargo when an explosion occurred. Three men were killed and 8 were injured. Ray survived critical injuries, but lost a toe. He worked the rest of his life for Honeywell installing thermostats until he retired in 1987.

After retirement Ray taught welding classes at Moorhead Area Vocational Technical School.

Ray was a proud member of the Masons, Sunrise Lodge and was a past Master.
He was baptized & confirmed at St. Marks in Fargo, was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Moorhead then became a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fargo.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 53 yrs, Anna; son William, brothers, Richard & Lyle; sisters, Kathleen Baker & Patricia Pletan; sister-in-law, Anne Severson; brothers-in-law, Don Baker & Orion Pletan; nephew, Jon Severson; niece, Katherine Stenso-Miller, and nephew, David Severson.

Ray is survived by his sisters, Delores (George) Smith, Dianne Stenso, daughter Linda (Timothy) Carico, Grand Children; Jennifer (Patrick) Linder, Jason (Amber) Severson, Adam Carico, Christopher (Erin) Carico, Great Grand Children; Ryley & Hadley Severson, Jayden & Aria Lindner and Eli Carico.