Lillian Mae Ellen Severyn
July 5, 1926 - May 2, 2020

Due to the coronavirus, family services for Lillian Mae Ellen Severyn, 93, of Pierre, SD, will be held at a later date.
Lillian Mae Ellen Severyn died May 2, 2020, at Parkwood Apartments in Pierre, SD, at the age of 93.
Lillian Mae Ellen Severyn was born July 5, 1926, to Ellen and John Knudtson.
She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Vivian Lutheran Church of Vivian, SD, where she remained a lifelong member. Her first prayers were taught by her mother in Swedish and she always continued to recite them in Swedish. Lillian was always active in the church; she began to teach Sunday school while still in high school.
Lillian graduated from Vivian High School of Vivian, SD, in 1944. She was a cheerleader, salutatorian and homecoming queen. After graduation, she attended Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell, SD, to obtain her teaching certificate. She taught grades one through eight at country schools for five years.
On Oct. 2, 1947 she was united in marriage to Milton Burke Severyn at Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre, SD. They were farmers and ranchers in the Vivian, SD, area. They purchased the Severyn family farm where
they also raised their five sons. They built a home in Vivian, SD, when Burke became postmaster and Lillian was his part-time assistant. They loved the Vivian, SD, community and their many family members and
friends in the area. Lillian served in the community and held offices including the Vivian Lutheran Church, Community Club and Thrivent Lutheran.
She directed and appeared in community plays. For 20 years, she wrote the weekly column, “This and That” for the Lyman County Herald newspaper.
She was a talented painter and musician. She and two friends played in a small band known as “The Groovy Grannies” and for 20 years, they performed at local events and parties.
In 2006, Burke and Lillian moved to Parkwood Apartments in Pierre, SD.
There they enjoyed many friends and activities.
Lillian was a reading buddy for students at McKinley, Washington and Jefferson Elementary and the Pierre Indian Learning Center.
She enjoyed her Bible study and singing groups, and her weekly bridge games. She led exercise class and enjoyed gardening at a local community garden and volunteering at the South Dakota Women’s Prison.
But it was her family who always took precedence. She spent many years attending countless basketball and football games, cheering on her five sons as they grew. The Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations she hosted were legendary and made for special memories for her children and grandchildren.
She was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend. She will forever be missed and loved by many.
Grateful for having shared her life are her five sons, Dan Severyn of Vivian, SD, Curt Severyn and wife, Teri of Pierre, SD, Joe Severyn and wife, Wanda of Pierre, SD, Mark Severyn and wife, Denise of San Antonio,
Texas, and Vance Severyn of Sioux Falls, SD; 13 grandchildren, Jayme (MaKayla) Severyn, Leigh (Olivia) Severyn, Ashley (Meghan) Severyn, Britta (Steven) Douglas, Shane (Carolyn) Severyn, Kelly (Darrel) Kidd,
Tiffany (Josh) Severyn, Brooke (Rob) Severyn, Blake (Ashley) Severyn, Laura (Stephen) Peschong, Brandon Severyn, Burke Severyn and Brianna Guerrero; 16 great grandchildren, Dylan Severyn, Zayne Severyn, Colter
Severyn, Kobi Douglas, Phoenix Douglas, Jaxson Douglas, Lane (Anne Marie) Severyn, Kaitlynn Severyn, Erin Severyn, Kodie Severyn, Kailee Severyn, Katie Junker, Owen Severyn, Cameron Scott, Lucas Scott and Lillian Peschong and several special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Milton Burke Severyn, who died in 2009; her parents, Ellen and John Knudtson; her sisters, Alice Gunsalus, Edith Gannon and Evelyn Halgrimson; brothers, David,
Sexton and Ted Brown and Rex Knudtson and her father-in-law and mother-
in-law, Adolph and Pearl Severyn.
Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
Persons may also show support by taking part in the “Together In Spirit” option. Persons may e-mail their name and a message of support to togetherinspirit@yahoo.com and the family will be able to read the heartfelt message and know that others are together with them in spirit.
At the families’ request, memorials may be directed to Vivian Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 31, Vivian, SD 57576.