Beverly Anne Lindholm Severns passed away on February 12, 2023. Anne was born at the Wichita Hospital April 13, 1930.  She was the 6 ^th of 8 children born to Nora and Ernest Lindholm.  Anne grew up on a farm in Cheney, Kansas with her brothers and sister.  They attended a one room country schoolhouse until their eighth grade and then attended high school in Cheney, Kansas.

After high school, Anne attended Kansas State University.  It was during a time that many students were going to college on the GI Bill, which overcrowded the universities.  Kansas State had to add classes at 7:00 am to accommodate the influx.  That early class is where Virgil and Anne met.  Anne had drifted off to sleep, woke up and was trying to check the time and happened to see Virgil's watch.  Dad had won this watch placing first in the high jump at the Drake Relays track meet.  The numbers on the face of the watch were replaced with the letters D R A K E, R E L A Y S   The watch started a conversation, and the rest is history.

Just before Christmas Break, Anne saw the professor of the class.  She informed him that she and Virgil were going to be married and he replied, "I'm glad you got something out of my class besides sleep!"

Early on in their courtship, Dad asked mom if she'd be willing to move to Alaska.  Her adventurous spirit prompted her to quickly reply "Yes", and the engagement began.  On December 23, 1951, they were married in Cheney, Kansas.

After their honeymoon Virgil reported for Duty in the United States Army at Fort Holabird, Maryland.  Anne went back to finish her BS degree in Home Economics.  As soon as she graduated, she joined Dad in Maryland.  In 1953 Ronald Dean was born at Fort Hood, Texas in the largest state of the union at that time.  Kenton Leon was born in 1955 in Hoxie, Kansas.

Not giving up on the original question of moving to Alaska, they began writing letters to every high school located on the highway system in Alaska.  In 1956, Virgil accepted a teaching position at the new Lathrop High School in Fairbanks, Alaska.  Thus began their 66 plus year adventure in Alaska.

In August 1956 they moved to Fairbanks in a pickup truck pulling a 30-foot trailer.  It took 3 weeks to make the trip.

That fall of 1956, Cyril Eugene was born in Fairbanks in the territory of Alaska. The temperature was -44 degrees Fahrenheit.  We call that 44 below.

In 1957 they purchased a homestead on Chena Hot Springs Road.  This was home, where they enjoyed raising their children, gardening, and living the true Alaskan experience.  Their nearest neighbors were a mile away.  Mom embraced the challenges of living on the homestead with no running water, (yes that means an outhouse), no telephone, one car which Dad took to work and roads that became impassable during spring of the year.

She kept Dad and the children in clean clothes, fed, lunches made, and ready for church, school, or work, whatever the day may bring.  Throughout the years Mom masterfully tended to the homestead and six children.  God gave Mom the gift of hospitality.  This always kept their dinner table open for traveling guests, church visitors and dad's colleagues.  She always made room for one more.  Mom loved to knit and crochet.  She made coats, mittens, Christmas stockings, and she also made each grandchild an Afghan for their high school graduation present.

In 1959, Jerome Dale was stillborn and was buried on Birch Hill in Fairbanks, Alaska, which is now the largest state in the union.  When they lost Jerry and almost lost Mom, the doctors said it wouldn't be safe for Mom to have any more children because her uterus had ruptured during the birth process.

In 1961 they adopted Starla Jean and in 1962 they adopted Esther Arlene and by the Grace of God they had Grace Anne born in the fall of 1967, during the cleanup after the big Fairbanks Flood.  So, they call Grace their Flood Baby.  This completed their family, Mom always said God gave us a lot of children, but he didn't give us any extras.

Dad taught at Lathrop High School and later went to work for the University of Alaska where he worked as a Cooperative Extension Agent until his retirement.  The last 5 years with the University were spent in Nome, Alaska, another welcomed adventure of Iditarod Dog Sled Races, Polar Bear Plunge Challenges, food orders delivered by barge once a year, honey buckets, gold mining on the beach, mom working on the ambulance crew and many other unique experiences.

After retirement they continued living on the homestead, staying busy with gardening, farmer's market, grandchildren and traveling with mom's siblings.  Among their travels were trips to Africa, Guam, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, and a trip through the Panama Canal.

Mom and Dad celebrated their 71 ^st Wedding Anniversary on December 23, 2022.  They both give credit to The Lord for their abundant blessings.

With confidence we believe that Anne; wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother is at "Home" with God in Heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

Anne was preceded in death by her mother and father, six of her siblings, her son, Jerome Severns, and daughter, Starla James.

Anne is survived by her husband Virgil Severns, and children, Ron and Linda Severns, Kent and Cheryl Severns, Cy and Kitti Severns, Esther and Terry Howell, and Grace and Andy Knowlton, 20 grandchildren and many great grandchildren, her brother, Norman Lindholm and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are being made by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be left at www.funeralmation.com.