Winnifred Joyce Severtson Obituary (2023)

Winnifred "Winnie" Joyce Severtson was born August 24, 1928, in Bismark, North Dakota, to Ludvig and Lena Quanrud. She died on December 18, 2023, in Yakima, Washington, at the age of 95. She grew up in Bismark, the third child of four. When she was 14, the family packed up and moved west, settling in Seattle. She graduated from Roosevelt High School and started working in the airline industry, as a secretary. She retired from The Boeing Company, where her last job was at the Radiation Effects Laboratory. After retirement, she provided childcare for an extended family in Issaquah. Winnie was an avid Democrat and always voted, which was her passion. She believed in the creed by Warren Christopher, "Without a free and independent media, true democracy is unattainable." She was a lifelong newspaper reader. She was reading The Seattle Times daily, until a few days before her death. In her memory, subscribe to the newspaper of your choice. Winnie married Sanford "Si" Severtson in 1952, and they had three children, Paul, Deborah, and Peter. After her marriage ended, she stayed in south Seattle. Several years later she moved to Bellevue, then Kirkland. She was always a gardener and enjoyed growing flowers at all her homes, until she moved to assisted living in Yakima. She had been living in Yakima after breaking her hip about 10 years ago. She defied statistics and lived almost a decade after the first break, and then two years after a second hip break in 2021. Many thanks to the staff at Rexford Manor, Avamere at Englewood Heights, and Landmark Care Center. Everyone was always kind and compassionate. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Severtson-Coffin, her niece, Karen Lynn, and nephew, John Quanrud. She is preceded in death by her sons, Paul and Peter, and all three brothers, Clement, Percy, and Merton Quanrud. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.