Martha Severance

Martha Curtis (Brodie) Severance, 94, of Lansing, KS and formerly of Faulkton, passed away Thursday, August 4, 2016 at Twin Oaks Health Facility, Lansing, KS.

Funeral Mass was held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 13, 2016 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Faulkton, with Father Christopher Hughes officiating. Burial followed in the Faulkton Cemetery.

Martha was born January 5, 1922 in Huntley, Montana. She was the second of three children born to loving parents Charles Eliot and Mallie Curtis (Trolinger) Brodie.   Her childhood years were spent living in Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa as her father’s assignments with the Corps of Engineers moved the family from state to state. After graduating from high school in Onawa, Iowa she attended the University of South Dakota (USD) in Vermillion, South Dakota. While studying at the University, Martha (or Marty as her father called her), was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and a drum majorette for the USD Marching Band.

In 1941, Martha met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Severance who was attending medical school at USD. They were married in Denver, Colorado on September 8, 1943 and made their first home in Salt Lake City, Utah while Bob was completing his Medical Degree from the University of Utah. Their only child, Betty Jean, was born in New Rochelle, New York on December 8, 1945 in the hospital where Bob was a medical intern. For the next 20 years, Martha’s life revolved around being a supportive Army doctor’s wife living in Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts, Georgia, Washington, Arkansas, Virginia, Arizona, Texas, France and Germany. She truly enjoyed making a home for her family and ensuring stability for her daughter no matter how often they moved or where they lived. In 1965, LTC Robert Leon Severance passed away while commanding a military hospital in the Dominican Republic. Martha and Betty Jean moved to Faulkton, South Dakota where Martha would make her home for the next 45 years.

She completed her education, graduating from Northern State Teachers College in 1976 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She was an educator in the Faulkton School District until 1985. She enjoyed volunteering with the Vowel Orientated Word Attack Course (VOWAC), the American Legion Auxiliary and especially working on the committee to have the Foncannon Legion Hall listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. She was an active member of Catholic Daughters and Koinonia which were very important to her. She also journeyed to the Holy Land for further spiritual growth.   In 2011, she moved to Lansing, Kansas to be near her daughter and son-in-law.   Martha loved her family and especially her grandchildren, Michael, Robert and Laurie and their families. She was so proud of the accomplishments of her grand and great-grandchildren and loved to share their pictures and talents with her many friends.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, her parents, and her brother, John Cameron Brodie.   She is survived by her sister, Catherine Ann Meisburger of Greeley, Colorado; daughter, Betty Jean (Mike) Hanson of Leavenworth, Kansas; grandchildren, Michael (Sarah) Hanson of Hill City, South Dakota; Robert (Jane) Hanson of Leavenworth, Kansas and Laurie (Cape) Rust of Leavenworth, Kansas; great-grandchildren, Lexy (Aaron), Drew and Kendyl Hanson, Matthew and Ella Hanson, and Mallie and Megan Rust.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Martha’s arrangements.