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Helen Jo Anderson Severson

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Birth	:	2 Nov 1918 Marvin, Grant County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	30 Aug 1943 Big Spring, Howard County, Texas, USA
Burial	:	Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.2966995, -96.8163986
Plot	:	Block 8 Lot A3 Grave 1
Description	:	Helen was a forgotten veteran who was finally recognized as WWII veteran. It took 60 years, but thanks to Tammy Schroeder, commander of the Grant county american legion, arranged a memorial service for helen, who died in a plane crash while she served her county in the WASP program during the war. and also thanks to tammy, helen was awarded the status of a veteran. The family of helen tried for many years to have helen recognized as a vet, but tammy did her job and came through for the family. She said women like helen served during the... Read More	Helen was a forgotten veteran who was finally recognized as WWII veteran. It took 60 years, but thanks to Tammy Schroeder, commander of the Grant county american legion, arranged a memorial service for helen, who died in a plane crash while she served her county in the WASP program during the war. and also thanks to tammy, helen was awarded the status of a veteran. The family of helen tried for many years to have helen recognized as a vet, but tammy did her job and came through for the family. She said women like helen served during the war ferrying military planes around the country. Helen was never given the honor of a military funeral and now her day has come. Helen attended Dakota state university and received her pilot licence at south dakota university where she also earned her degree in political science, and earned her wings in the SDSU training program. She had been training for the womens airforce service pliots, she was 24 years old. 60 years later helen got the funeral she should had gotten. the rifles were fired and her flag was folded and given to her beloved sister Neoma Isaak after a thunderous flyover. Helen is laid to rest next to her husband Robert. He was shot down and killed over Germany shortly after helen passed away. ************************************************************ Info provided by find a grave contribute Janet Gritzner From Woman's Collection, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204 Record of Women Airforce Service Pilots Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. Helen Jo Severson (43-W-5 trainee killed in an accident on August 30, 1943 with her instructor Calvin Atwood and classmate Margaret Seip). ____________________________________________________________________ Suggested edit: This article was posted by Kent Peterson at 8:41 pm, 4 July 2020 on a Facebook page called Milwaukee County Memories Group. I thought you might find it interesting. I received an email from the CAF WASP Squadron last week, suggesting people locate the final resting places of World War II WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in their area on this Fourth of July. Upon checking their database I discovered that one of these women – Margaret Seip - was buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee. After a little research, a tragic story was revealed that became the motivation for me to follow through on the original request. Today (July 4) I visited Margaret's grave and left a remembrance to honor her service. I want to tell you a little about Margaret Seip. She was from Wauwatosa and graduated with a degree in English from Lawrence College in Appleton in 1938. Shortly thereafter she earned her private pilot's license. Margaret was one of the first women to join the Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol and she served as a Link instructor for Army pilots. She jumped at the chance to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots in March 1943 and entered AAF flight training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. During a routine training flight in a UC-78 Bobcat on Aug. 30, 1943 the plane experienced a severe structural failure, resulting in a crash which killed Margaret, her fellow classmate Helen Jo Severson, along with their instructor pilot. The morning of the crash, Margaret had volunteered to replace a pilot at the last minute – so she wasn't even supposed to be on that flight. Just eleven more days and Margaret and Peggy would have gotten their wings. At her burial at Forest Home Cemetery, members of Margaret’s Civil Air Patrol unit served as pallbearers. Margaret’s story kept running through my mind in the days leading up to July 4. I felt certain that Margaret could have achieved so much and left her mark on the world had her life not been cut short. The WASP Squadron which sent me the original email honors the legacy of the original WASP pilots by sharing their stories to inspire others, particularly girls and young women, to exceed expectations and find a greater appreciation of their own potential. While Margaret’s story is sad, it’s also inspirational. What amazing accomplishments might she have achieved in her lifetime? That is what led me to Forest Home Cemetery this morning to honor Margaret Seip’s service to her country. Learn more about the original WASPs, today's WASP Squadron and Women in Aviation International at https://cafwaspsquadron.org/the-wasp/ Contributor: wjsd (49963191) • [email protected]

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Helen Jo Anderson Severson's memorial?
Helen Jo Anderson Severson's memorial is located at: Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings, Brookings County, USA.
When did Helen Jo Anderson Severson death?
Helen Jo Anderson Severson death on 30 Aug 1943 in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Helen Jo Anderson Severson's memorial?
Latitude: 44.2966995
Longitude: -96.8163986

Family Members:

Parent

Edwin Andrew Anderson

(1894 - 1950)

Amy Rosella Lindgren Anderson

(1893 - 1983)

Spouse

Capt Robert Allen Severson

(1918 - 1944)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Greenwood Cemetery
Brookings, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2966995, -96.8163986

2. Saint Thomas More Catholic Cemetery
Brookings, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2970500, -96.8151500

3. First Lutheran Cemetery
Brookings, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2979590, -96.8247740

4. Prairie Cemetery
Brookings, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2828616, -96.7981652

5. Kirby Cemetery
Volga, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3120300, -96.8883000

6. Scandinavian Lutheran Cemetery
Brookings, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3486860, -96.8485590

7. First Lutheran Cemetery
Volga, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3139000, -96.9289017

8. East Lake Campbell Cemetery
Medary, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2171100, -96.8664600

9. Bergh Cemetery
Sinai, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2681007, -96.9360962

10. Sterling Lutheran Cemetery
Volga, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3842900, -96.8540700

11. Trinity Cemetery
Volga, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3264008, -96.9421997

12. Lake Campbell Cemetery
Volga, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2109300, -96.8850400

13. Hillside Cemetery
Volga, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3342018, -96.9443970

14. Saint Wiliams Catholic Cemetery
Aurora, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2833460, -96.6681920

15. Fairlawn Cemetery
Aurora, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2831001, -96.6678009

16. Oslo Lutheran Cemetery
Volga, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2246700, -96.9284300

17. Deer Creek Cemetery
Bruce, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4136009, -96.8685989

18. Fountain Cemetery
Bushnell, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3657990, -96.6667023

19. Yeo Cemetery
Flandreau, Moody County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1815900, -96.6929400

20. Bruce Cemetery
Bruce, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4371986, -96.8839035

21. South Lake Campbell Cemetery
Nunda, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1672600, -96.9182300

22. Elmwood Cemetery
Bruce, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4372000, -96.8866000

23. Midway Lutheran Church Cemetery
Flandreau, Moody County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1388550, -96.7785645

24. Sterling Methodist Cemetery
Brookings, Brookings County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4560000, -96.7863600