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SEVERSON, Neena Kier; 82; Minot ND; Minot Daily; 2004-9-1; ndvivi
Neena Kier Severson
Neena Kier Severson, 82, 214-3rd Ave SE, Minot ND , formerly of Strawberry Lake, died Sunday Aug 29, 2004, in her home. She was born Nov 6, 1921 in Waterbury CT. and was adopted by Peter R and Berniece (Kier) Severson on Apr. 6, 1923. She grew up at rural Ruso and the Strawberry Lake area. As a young Adult she owned and operated Neena's Cafe and Bar at Strawberry lake. She sold the business in the late 1960s but continued to live on the farm on the south side of the lake and devoted her time to volunteer activities at Manor Care Health Services in Minot, Garrison Hospital and Benedictine Living Center, and at Edgewood Vista in Minot. She also played accordion monthly at Prairieview Nursing home, Underwood. She moved into an apartment in Minot during winter months. She was a charter member of the Norsk Hostfest Accordion Club, an honorary lifetime member of the Strawberry Lake Improvement Association and member/leader of the Friends Band. She had received the 1994 abd 2003 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Awards presented by the Minot Mayor's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. (this is not in the obit, but she had been very badly burned as a child of 5 when some kids wanted to see what was in a barrel and threw a match into it-gasoline!. She was badly disfigured and scarred in the face but didn't let that stop her) She received several appreciation awards, including the Making Each Day Brighter Award from Manor Care, and others from Garrison Hospital, Garrison Benedictine center, and Edgewood Vista. She was an accomplished horse-woman in her younger years. She enjoyed playing pinochle, photography, and music and was a self-taught player of the accordion, guitar, piano, and spoons. Surviving family include the Ravaans family and her "adopted" family, the Hostfest Accordion Club and the Strawberry Lake Improvement Association. She was preceded in death by her adopted parents, infant brother, and "adopted" sister, Betty Ravnaas. Funeral services were at Oak Valley Lutheran, Velva ND with burial in the Ruso Cemetery. (Thomas Funeral Home, Minot)