Severson, Margaret M. 

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.  

Margaret was a gifted educator.  Throughout her career, she 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 in 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, Mandy, 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 at Riverside Cemetery and dinner to follow at ELC.   A visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, August 1st at Evangelical Lutheran Church, with additional visitation 1 hour prior to the Friday service.  Memorials can be directed to Black River Memorial Hospice Care, Black River Falls Public Library, or The Black River Falls Area Foundation.