Gloria Joyce Anderson Severtson passed on peacefully at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown, SD on September 17, 2024.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7pm at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau, SD on Sunday, September 22, 2024 with a 7:00 pm Scripture Service. Memorial Services will begin at 10:30 am on Monday, September 23, 2024 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Flandreau, SD.
Gloria was born in Willow Lake, SD on November 13, 1933, daughter of Violet (Walker) and John Johnson. She graduated from Artesian High School, where she was a star basketball player. She met Ronald Severtson of Montrose and they were married in 1951. Ron was in the Army and they moved to Alaska where Craig John was born in 1952. Following Ron’s honorable discharge, they started farming in the Montrose area and moved to Flandreau in 1955 onto what was then known as the Pettigrew Farm. Debra Marie was born in 1954 and Ronald Lee in 1959.
Gloria helped on the farm, but was best known for her excellent cooking. She was featured in the Argus Leader as “Cook of the Week” and also participated in the Mrs. South Dakota event. She was very active in her children’s school events and at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School, serving on committees and Circle.
She worked for “Evelyn’s” dress shop and also was Flandreau’s radio personality by presenting the “Flandreau News” each morning at 8:45 on KBRK. Later she worked for Cenex as an accountant.
She married Dale Anderson in 1985.They lived in Granbury, Texas until 2000, when they moved to Watertown, SD. Gloria worked for National Service Research during those years and was often commended for her excellent work.
Living in South Dakota, she was able to attend graduations and weddings of her grandchildren, plus many athletic and musical events. Gloria’s grandchildren were her pride and joy. Her greatest tragedy was the loss of her grandson Duran in 2017.
Gloria moved to Jenkins Living Center in 2021.Her husband Dale faithfully visited her twice daily and always brought her the Watertown paper and her favorite soda.
Gloria will be forever missed by many, including her family, friends and staff at Jenkins.
Gloria is survived by husband Dale; children, Craig (Joan) Severtson, Deb Imrie and Lee Severtson; sister, Patricia (Roger) Mews; grandchildren, Luke (Heather) Imrie, Joel (Miranda) Imrie, Beau Severtson, Bret (Megan) Severtson, Haley Severtson and Katharine (Jacob) Kaczmarowski; great-grandchildren, Beckett and Elliott Severtson, Milo and Violet Imrie and Mason Kaczmarowski; sisters-in-law, Ione Gamber and Betty Gamber; brother-in-law, Robert Severtson; plus many nieces and nephews which she treasured. She was also survived by stepchildren, Greg Anderson, Debbie (Brad) Pritchard and Doug (Lynn) Anderson; step-grandchildren Montana Pierson, Joey Zucker and Vivian Anderson; and by her beloved cat, Bella.
Gloria is preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Duran Severtson; brothers, Royal and Harold Gamber.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Jenkins Living Center and Prairie Lakes Home Health & Hospice who cared so much for Gloria during her time there.
Memorials may be made to Helping Kids Round First. This is a non-profit Nicaragua/Africa organization that Craig Severtson (Gloria and Ron’s son) started.
