Margaret M. Severson

Margaret M. Severson, age 86, of Black River Falls, WI passed away in Saint Cloud, MN on
Sunday, July 14th, 2024, surrounded by friends and family. Margaret was preceded in death by
her loving husband of 47 years, Vernon; her parents, Erwin and Dolores Berndt of Juneau, WI;
and sister, Carolyn Berndt, of Hartford, WI. Margaret is survived by her children; Amanda (Tom)
Falloon of St. Cloud, MN and Jon (Jennifer) Severson of Plymouth, MN; and four grandchildren,
Soren and August Falloon and Anna (Greta) and Margaret (Millie) Severson.
Born July 4th, 1938 in Hartford, WI, Margaret was a natural firecracker who grew up actively
participating in an array of school, church and community activities, graduating with honors from
Hartford High School in 1956. Margaret attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior, earning
a B.A. in Music Education in 1960. Margaret then brought her love of music and community to
Black River Falls later that year where she began her 35-year career as a music educator. It is
also here that she met her husband-to-be, Vernon Severson. After a fun-filled courtship,
Margaret and Vern were wed in Juneau, WI on June 11, 1965.
Throughout her career, Margaret used her tireless energy and a compassionate firm hand to
influence generations of young learners. She began her career teaching high school choral
music, establishing the Madrigal singers which remained a community favorite for decades.
Later, Margaret taught elementary and middle school music, utilizing her vocal ear training
method to help thousands of students become more confident singers.
Margaret’s commitment to her community was wide-ranging and extensive. She was
instrumental in the founding of the Falls Players, a nonprofit community theater in 1975, hosting
the initial fundraising performance in her living room and directing the inaugural musical
presentation of 1776 in America’s bicentennial year. Margaret went on to serve on the Board
and direct many more productions over the following decades. She concluded her Falls Players
career with a presentation of A Tale of Two Cities in 2014, and received a lifetime achievement
award named in her honor.
Margaret was also very active in her church community, serving as the Senior Choir Director of
Evangelical Lutheran Church for over 30 years – regularly performing as a soloist at special
events and frequently cajoling reluctant singers into the choir’s ranks! She also was a
longstanding member of many women’s organizations, including the Tuesday Club and the
Karner Blue Garden Club. Margaret also enjoyed volunteering with the Black River Memorial
Hospital Auxiliary (Volunteers), joining that group and 1985, chairing numerous committees, and
serving as President from 2000-2002.
Following her retirement in 1994, Margaret and Vern split time between Black River Falls and
their retirement home in Green Valley, AZ, where she continued to make many new and lifelong
friends! Margaret carried forward her love of music into retirement, playing french horn in both
the Black River Falls Community Band and the Green Valley Community Band, and
singing in the Desert Hills Lutheran church choir. Wherever she went, she made a positive
impact on the community around her!
In October of 2019, Margaret moved to Saint Cloud, MN, initially temporarily, to convalesce
following a series of heart surgeries. While her health and love of life returned, the pandemic
and a growing loss of mobility led to a nearly five-year stay in Saint Cloud under the attentive care of her daughter, Amanda, and family. While the family lamented Grandma’s loss of
independence and their regular trips to Black River Falls, Margaret’s quality of life was greatly
extended by this generosity of spirit and they were all blessed to have these years together!
As the family has received messages of condolence and sympathy, the impact Margaret had on
those around her is evident. Her warmth, her humor, her gregarious personality and her
willingness to help those around her are the qualities which made her the unique individual she
was! She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her!
A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 2nd at Evangelical
Lutheran Church (ELC), 115 N. 5th Street, Black River Falls, WI, with internment Riverside
Cemetery and dinner to follow at ELC. A visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service, and
also from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, August 1st at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Black River Falls. Memorials can be directed to Black River Memorial Hospice Care,
Black River Falls Public Library, or The Black River Falls Area Foundation.