Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Selmer and Lillian Syverson
Husband's Full Name: Selmer N. Syverston
Husband's Place of Birth: North Dakota
Husband's Father's Name: Ole Syverson
Husband's Mother's Name: Anna Syverson
Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown
Wife's Full Name: Lillian Marie Shirley
Wife's Place of Birth: North Dakota
Wife's Father's Name: Charles A. Shirley
Wife's Mother's Name: Mathilda V. Anderson
Wife's Siblings' Names: Violet Shirley, Marion Shirley
Children's Names: Norris Syverson, Patricia Syverson
Our first indication of the Syversons living in the Manfred community was a news article from the county paper in the summer of 1929 when Mrs. Syverson’s parents from Harlow, ND visited. Mr. Syverson worked at the O & M Elevator. In July 1937 he accepted a similar position in Velva and they moved to their new location.
They were members of the Fagerlund Sons of Norway. Prior to moving to Velva, the Sons of Norway members and friends gave them a farewell party. In October when the Manfred S/N had their lutefisk supper, the Syversons drove over from Velva to enjoy the lutefisk and visit with friends.
In the 1940s they census records indicated they were living in Montana; later they moved to the state of Washington where he lived until his early 90s; Lillian, his wife died at 65.