Vinal L. Severeid passed away peacefully on Friday, August 23, 2013 at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth, after being under the care of Season's Hospice since mid-June.

He was born in Moody County, South Dakota on March 6, 1923 to Wier Martin and Christina Elizabeth (Amdahl) Severeid. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

The family moved to a farm in Murray County, Minnesota in 1936, north of Lake Wilson. There he became good friends with Raymond Aga, whose family farm was just south of theirs. Soon, Ray's youngest sister, Doris, started hanging around with the boys. Vinal's fate was set! They married on March 23, 1946 in Lake Wilson.

They set up their household in Florence, MN in the back of an auto repair garage owned jointly by him and one of his older brothers. The William H. Ziegler Co., Caterpillar distributor in Minnesota, sent out scouts to locate talented mechanics and Vinal became a loyal employee from 1953-1986. He was first located in Minneapolis/St. Paul, then transferred to Rochester in 1957.

Through his love-filled marriage with Doris, they produced 3 offspring who survive: Michael (Maricusa) of Monterrey, Mexico, Maureen (David) Steffes of Cottage Grove, and Marjorie Severeid (Bob Curry) of Rochester. They were blessed with 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Doris on Christmas morning, 2010; 7 brothers and 4 sisters.

During retirement, he and Doris enjoyed traveling, journeying numerous times to Mexico and 4 times to Norway. They were actively involved in the Sons of Norway, holding most of the elected offices at least once. He also became quite good at rolling lefse and preparing lutefisk for their annual events. In addition, he was an active, faithful member of Zumbro Lutheran Church. When the church moved to its current location, he volunteered to install the "Cross of Reconciliation."

The memorial for Vinal is Sunday, September 15 at 1:00 p.m.at Zumbro Lutheran Church with Pastor Shelley Cunningham officiating. There will be a gathering of family and friends in Fellowship Hall, located on the lower level, following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Zumbro Lutheran Church, Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth, or Season's Hospice.