Our Father Gerald was visited by our Mom recently and she led him to the home that she had prepared for the both of them in Heaven. The two of them together again as they were in life, inseparable. Dad was born to Philemon and Bernadette (Baillargeon) Sevigny on a cold winter’s day in January of 1931 in Saint Thomas, North Dakota.
His first few years were spent in the St Thomas area until in 1935 the family moved to Grafton and their home at 818 Summit Avenue. Dad was the last of ten children born to Philemon and Bernadette and as such was often spoiled and never lacked for attention. Dads would often speak fondly of his youth and the fun or mischief that he and his friends would find themselves in. Not one interested in schooling, Dad never graduated preferring the rich experiences he would gain from life to that of a classroom.
Getting bored, Dad was always rather restless, he got his Mother to convince the Army Recruiter that her son was indeed seventeen and off he was to Kansas and a new way of life that would forever change him, that was 1947. War came on the Korean Peninsula and Dad answered the call with the 25th Infantry. He would later describe his experiences at war as an eye opening and terrifying experience that would mold and shape him forever. Wounded during the Battle at the Chosun Reservoir he found himself in an Army hospital in Tokyo recovering from his wounds.
Later he would be sent home to recover further from his wounds where he would meet and fall in love with a young Icelandic girl from Mountain (Lois Bjornson). They were married in September of 1952 and would spend the next 58 years together until our Mother passed this past May. Dad would remain in the Army and the service of his country for over 25 years. He and our Mother loved this type of life and made friends all over the world wherever they went. Dad rose through the ranks to that of that of Sergeant First Class, only retired after being told that he would have to serve another tour of duty in Vietnam, he felt that he just could not leave his family again, and quietly retired.
Living in the Grafton area after his retirement he was continuously restless, for I do not think that Dad had truly wanted to leave the Army for it had become the only solid thing he had ever known besides Mom. In 1978 He and Mom moved to the Olympia Washington area where they lived for the next 14 years, traveling every so often to some of the places that they had lived throughout his Army career and visiting their many friends that they had made together.
In 1992, Mom and Dad moved for the final time to the Mesa Arizona area where they would spend the rest of their days together. Mom getting sick was a complete shock to everyone however losing her to Cancer was devastating to Dad for not only did he love and depend on her for his very breath, they were always together and they always seemed to complete each other. The bond they shared was obvious and admirable. Dad was never quite the same after Mom’s passing, lonely and confused he would often ask why her and not him. Dad was generous to a fault, he would give you the shirt off his back before thinking or taking care of himself, and he would always say the Army taught him that. I think the greatest lesson that he ever taught us children was that a Father could never be more than 100% right nor 100% wrong, thank you Dad for that lesson.
He leaves behind a son Dean (April) of Port Orchard, Wa., a daughter Mary and son Roger of Mesa, Az., and a daughter Denise (Scott Woinarowicz) of Olympia, Wa. Five grandchildren Scott (Ashley Bender) of Mesa, Az., Kayla (Ryan Sutherland) of Olympia, Wa., Marc of San Diego, Ca., Kristjian of Olympia, Wa., and John Paul of Port Orchard, Wa., and a Great Granddaughter, Madalin (His Snootzie, Her Big Pappa) of Olympia, Wa., his family was always a sense of great pride and joy to him. Also surviving were his three sisters, Lucy, Alice and Isabel and many nieces and nephews. His wife Lois, a daughter Catherine, his Mother and Father, Philemon and Bernadette, four sisters Fabiola, Theresa, Winifred, Helen, and two brothers Adrian and Woodrow, precede him in death.
Dad’s life was celebrated by a Memorial service, which was held at the Mountain View Funeral home in Mesa, Az., with Full Military Grave Site Honors following the services at the National Veterans Cemetery in Phoenix, Dad and Mom are now forever together again. The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).
One element of losing a loved one is reflection and as we look back through blurry tear-stained eyes, we see a clear vision of how fortunate we truly were to have Dad in our daily lives. Thanks Dad for all the lessons you taught us in life and the support you gave so freely. We miss you already.
We are very sorry to hear of Uncle Gerald’s passing. We enjoyed your parents’ visits home to ND in the summer. They were good to include Leona in their trips, too. They talked fondly of their time at Dover and whenever we are there, we think of them.