Pastor Murley Severtson

 Pastor Murley Alden Severtson, 94, Clear Lake, died Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Oakwood Care Center.
A funeral service will be held on, Monday, April 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City, with Rev. Kathy Graves officiating. Interment was at the Clear Lake Cemetery where Military Honors were presented by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Memorials may be given to Opportunity Village, the Malaria Fund at Trinity Lutheran Church, or the charity of your choice. 

       Murley was born Sept. 26, 1919, in Eagle Grove, Iowa, the son of Thomas J. and Anna Louise (Murley) Severtson. He attended school in Eagle Grove, graduating from high school in 1937. In 1941 he graduated from St. Olaf College and served as a Captain in the Marines during WWII. He prepared for the ministry at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., graduating in 1948.
Murley married Jeannette Krogh in Washington D.C., on Sept. 12, 1942. He served parishes in Pequot Lakes, Minn., Rockford, Ill., Clear Lake, Mason City, and worked a year for Tent Makers.
He was searching for a way to serve more people outside the walls of the church. He received a scholarship from the Lutheran World Federation to study communities for disabled people in Germany. When he returned, he was called to be the pastor at Zion Lutheran Church. Shortly after arriving in Clear Lake, he helped form a small group who wanted to develop a place where people with disabilities could live and work together in a Christian environment. Their work resulted in the founding of Handicap Village, which became Opportunity Village. Murley served as president of its board for 17 years.
He also served on the boards of Waldorf College, Golden Valley College in Minneapolis, Hospice of North Iowa and was vice president of the Iowa District of the American Lutheran Church for three years.
Murley is survived by his wife, Jeannette Severtson, Clear Lake; children, Maren (Steve ) Coates, Galena, Ill., John (Jana) Severtson, Clear Lake, Genelle (Mike) Morgan, Pella, Iowa, Mark (Lori) Severtson, Oregon, Wis., and Rolf (Fran Hayden) Severtson, Delray Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Emily (Justin) Watkins, Andrea (Nathan) Sanger, Kirk (Josie) Severtson, David (Amanda) Severtson, Andrew (Tammy) Severtson, Lisa (Anthony) Alvino, Sara (John Shaffer) Morgan, Bjorn Severtson, Rolf Severtson, Keelin Severtson, and Anna Severtson; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Hazel Severtson and Lillian Roe; and several nieces and nephews.
Murley was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Judy Severtson; brothers, Thomas, Ansle and Luther Severtson; and sister, Genevieve Odegaard.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.