Larry D. Severson, 86, of Belmond, IA, died, Monday, September 28, 2026, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond., Belmond, IA.
Public funeral services will be Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM, at the Belmond United Church of Christ, 116 West Main St., Belmond, IA. The Reverend David Boogerd will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery.
Public visitation will be Wednesday at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 1st Street SE, Belmond, from 5-7 PM and on Thursday at the church from 10-11 AM prior to the funeral service. Memorials may be directed to the family or future designation or to the donor’s choice. Larry’s funeral services will be live-streamed on the Andrews Funeral Home Facebook page. Just LIKE the page to view.
Andrews Funeral Home of Belmond is in charge of arrangements.
Larry Dean Severson, the son of Sammy and Lillian (Haugen) Severson, was born June 5, 1940, at the Belmond Hospital. He attended country schools in the earlier years of his life and then Belmond Community Schools graduating from Belmond High School in the Class of 1959. During his school years Larry was an active member of FFA where he would often show sheep at the fair.
Larry was baptized and confirmed in the St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond where he was a member for much of his life. Larry was united in marriage to a Clarion girl by the name of Carol Hertema on October 24, 1970. This union would last nearly 56 years and was blessed with a precious son Scott Severson.
He faithfully served his country in the United States Navy where his tenure lasted 4 years, 2 months and 17 days. Larry may have even known the minutes as he would often share these details when asked how long he was in the military. He spent part of his tenure in Japan and Hawaii. His main military work detail was in the ship engine room and was Honorably Discharged as an MM3 E-4 on April 20, 1967.
Upon returning to civilian life, Larry recommenced his love for farming that had been planted in his being when he grew up on the farm and helped with the chores and other tasks. He was a lifelong farmer where he raised crops, hogs and sheep. Larry also was very fond of quarter horses and at one time had as many as 26 in his herd. He especially looked forward to the seasons when the colts would be born into the world. In addition to the farm animals Larry enjoyed the camaraderie of his German Shepherd.
Besides farming full time, Larry had worked night shift at Syngenta in Belmond for a number of years. He also looked forward to hauling the drill for the soil and conservation office all throughout Wright County, Iowa. He had served for a time on the Clarion Coop Board of directors and had even taken a trip out east with them. Larry also helped Carol for many years with her custom draperies business.
Larry truly never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone friends and strangers. Of course, if the topic of horses came up from others Larry would want to know all about them and what bloodlines they had and many other details. Larry really just loved to visit in general! He and Carol loved their roles as parents to Scott and supported him in all that he did and were his biggest cheerleaders when he played football and basketball during his school years. Larry always loved roller skating and looked forward to tooling about the floors of the roller rinks in Belmond and at Lake Cornelia. He and Carol had enjoyed square dancing for many years. The two had taken several bus trips to various places around the country. Larry looked forward to attending a rodeo when the opportunity arose. He liked to attend horse shows and going on an occasional trail ride. He and Carol shared a mutual love for dining out and one might often see the two of them on a routine schedule at The Corner Bar & Restaurant, the Belmond Drive In, and in years gone by at Laurie’s Diner as well as other places around the area. In his younger days he enjoyed doing some deer hunting. He was an avid western fan and looked forward to time spent watching the old western movies and TV shows, as well as reading all kinds of western books including all of the Louis L’mour books and listening to the classics of old western music. Of course, being the conversationalist and looking forward to chatting with people Larry would take every opportunity he could to meet up with his friends and classmates when he could and he enjoyed going to the regular class reunions as well.
Over the last few years, he began attending church where Carol played accompaniment for Sunday service and Larry found a new comfortable church family and he liked for coffee and fellowship with the congregation at the Belmond UCC Church.
Larry will be remembered by all who knew him and a relatively easy-going, soft-spoken man filled with a love for his fellow man and the creatures of the earth. A gentleman proud of his Norwegian roots. He had a stubborn side and was always young at heart! A man who was always kindhearted. Son Scott said it best when he shared that he was proud of his dad, Larry, and the fact that he would get along with anyone!
Larry is survived by his loving wife Carol Severson, Belmond, IA; son Scott Severson and companion Sara Henry and her son Daniel, Belmond, IA; also extended family including a brother-in-law Daryl Hertema (Pat) California and sister-in-law Mary Miller, Des Moines, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Sammy and Lillian, his mother-in-law Lorraine Hertema and father-in-law Ennis Hertema.
Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond, IA www.
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