Eleanor Harriet (Billie) Severson, age 89, of Alabama, passed into the arms of Jesus Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, at the Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, AL.
Billie was born June 14, 1920, in Bradley, SD, to Ella Rose McCarthy and George John Frothinger, the youngest of 12 children. As a child growing up on a farm outside of Bradley, she earned the nickname Billie from a colt that was born about the same time she was. The nickname stuck for life.
At college in Brookings, SD, Billie met her future husband, Ray Johnson. They were married right after graduation, and within a year, Ray was sent to California as an officer in the US Army. During that separation, Billie moved to Washington state to work as a welder on the victory ships.
Shortly before World War II ended, Billie received a short telegram from the War Department that her beloved Ray had been killed in action while stationed in the Philippines. In that life-altering time, Billie cried out to a loving God and in the quietness of her room, found comfort from her Lord.
The war ended, and a couple of years later, at Bible College, Billie met and married Leland W. Severson of Cokato. They were happily married for over 59 years.
Throughout her life, Billie was a wonderful mother, grandmother, cook, seamstress, singer, teacher, and even a skilled marksman in her teenage and college years. She loved studying the Bible, enjoyed poetry, and read constantly.
Billie is survived by her four children, Sharon (Walter) Brush of Alabaster, AL, David (Kathi) Severson of Duluth, Rebecca (Donald) Hainlen of Chatfield, MN, and Daniel (Cathy Jo) Severson of Sauk Rapids; grandchildren Walter Gilbert Brush IV, Joel Brush, Tonia Mayton, Peter Hainlen, Erin Eccles, Matthew Severson, Emily Severson, Joshua Severson, and Nicole Severson; and great-grandchildren Walter Brush V, Leah Dianne Brush, Adrian Vega Mayton, Lilly Lou Brush, Emma, Wren and Halle Eccles, and Dominyc, Isaiah and Kaden Hainlen.
Services have been held.
Leave a Reply