Chuck Sevensen

Chuck was born on April 22, 1930 in Cando, North Dakota to Nels and Helene (Halse) Svensen. Chuck’s early years were spent on the family’s 620 acre farm in Cando, where they primarily harvested wheat and barley. At the age of 14, Chuck left Cando on a train headed to the Pacific Northwest. After a couple of years and various jobs, Chuck decided to relocate to the Midwest, eventually finding work in Amherst, South Dakota. The cattle ranch in Amherst, South Dakota was owned by Dalton and Bernie Docter who would remain close family friends with the Svensens for several decades. In 1950, Chuck enlisted in the US Navy as a Navy Seabee. During his years in the Navy, Chuck traveled the world, spending considerable time on the island of Guam. In 1954, after his Navy enlistment was up, Chuck moved to Klamath Falls and began attending Oregon Tech, in diesel technology program. Shortly after enrolling at Oregon Tech, Chuck met the love of his life, a beautiful co-ed named Edith Wallin. In 1956, Chuck and Edith were married in Klamath Falls. Soon after graduation, Chuck was afforded an opportunity to participate in a project at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. In 1960, four years after moving to Livermore, Chuck and Edith welcomed their baby girl, Linda Kay Svensen into the world and in 1962, their son Dalton Charles Svensen. Chuck was an extremely proud and loving father and husband. In 1964, after eight years in California, Chuck and his family relocated to Philomath where Chuck began his career at Oregon State University in the Industrial Engineering Department. He spent 27 years at the University as an Industrial Engineering Technician and master machinist. In 1992, Chuck retired from OSU after a long and successful career, which he’d enjoyed thoroughly. Since retiring, Chuck has enjoyed a multitude of hobbies, always staying very busy and happy. One of his 61 year membership in the Masonic Lodge. Chuck was a very active member of the Lodge, always enjoying the companionship of his brothers. Chuck was also a member of Eastern Star and a Past Patron. His greatest joy was working with the Rainbow Girls. He was their Rainbow Dad and State Dad in 1990. Chuck was also a member of the American Legion Post 10 in Albany. Another passion of Chuck’s was traveling around the western United States, helping farmers control the sage rat population by way of his superior marksmanship. Chuck was a lifetime member of the NRA and a very proud and responsible firearm collector. Chuck also enjoyed collecting antique farm equipment, never having forgotten his childhood years in North Dakota. Chuck was the most honest, trustworthy, hardworking man that one could meet. He had a wonderful sense of humor and blue eyes that always sparkled. He will be missed tremendously by all that knew him. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Helene (Halse) Svensen; brothers Andy, Pete, Oscar and Norma Svensen. Surviving are: wife Edith of Philomath; daughter Linda Perkins of Philomath; sons Dalton and wife Heather of Lebanon; sister Alice of San Antonio, Texas; brother Gilbert of Jacksonville; niece Karen Cramer of Corvallis; grandsons Charles Mellick of Philomath and Thomas Mellick of Norfolk, Virginia; grandson and granddaughter Jack and Anna Svensen and their mother Barbara Svensen, all of Scio; sister-in-law Doris Imel of Portland; and brother-in-law Don Wallin of Rainier. There will be a series of private family celebrations to honor Chuck.

Tributes

Chuck Sevensen

April 22, 1930 - August 9, 2017