June Alyce Wilmsen Severance

June Alyce Wilmsen Severance of Waterloo, Montana passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2017 in Bozeman, MT. June was born in Chicago, IL on November 7, 1924 to Eberhardt and Estelle Wilmsen.

She married B. Wayne Severance in 1951. They settled in East Aurora, NY and raised their two boys: Eric and Patrick. June and Wayne then left East Aurora for Waterloo, Montana in 1992 to fulfill June's lifetime wish of living in the west – and to be close to their sons, horses, and the Rocky Mountains.

June graduated cum laude with her BA from Kalamazoo University, she did further studies at Syracuse University where she received her MA in Literature. June was her soon-to-be-husband's English teacher at Syracuse University and had to reprimand the young vet, who read a newspaper in class.

June was very active in theater and radio during her college years and maintained these interests all through her life. She was very active directing plays, acting and writing and performing in one woman plays. She also cared very much about education and taught high school, substituted, and tutored students of all ages.

June was instrumental in and especially proud of developing and directing the Lewis and Clark Summer Theater, "Jefferson Valley Presents." She loved exploring Montana, geology, and horses and all the glory of "Her West."

June is predeceased by her beloved husband, B. Wayne Severance, who passed in 2014; her parents, Eberhardt and Estelle Wilmsen; and her favorite horse, "Topper."

She is survived by her son, Eric, his wife Dianne and their daughters: Sasha, Julia, and Mia Rose; her son, Patrick, his wife, Amy, and their sons: Tyler and Cullen; and her sister-in-law Laurel Walters of Washington D.C., whose children, Dale and Jan, were also very dear to her.

A celebration of life will be held in Whitehall this summer (date TBA). For additional information contact her son, Eric Severance by email at: eric@soundpix.com