Margaret Severson Elliott, resident of Lompoc since 1974, died on Monday, April 2, following a long illness.

She is survived by her husband, Brigadier General (ret.) McLean W. Elliott of Lompoc; her children Michael W. Elliott (Judi) of Burke, VA, Christine E. Hudson (Ron) of Seattle, W A; David M. Elliott of Muir Beach, CA; her daughter-in-law Melanie Eller (Michael) of Sebastopol, CA; two grandchildren, Michael M. Elliott of Denver, CO and Lauren F. Elliott of Reston, V A, and her beloved miniature poodle, Suzie III.

She was born Margaret Sarah Severson on September 2, 1920 in Davenport, North Dakota. She was the seventh of the eight children of parents Sven and Sigrid Severson, who emigrated from Norway in 1903. They made their family home in the rich farm country of North Dakota. Margaret attended grade school and high school in Davenport and went on to Morehead State Teacher's College in Morehead, MN, where she was the Homecoming Queen in 1939. Following graduation, she taught elementary school in Grandin, ND, where she met and married McLean Elliott, then a Lieutenant and pilot in the Army Air Corps. Together they lived to celebrate 64 years of marriage.

She was a beloved wife and mother, an exemplary military spouse, an excellent cook and hostess, and in later years, a respected Republican Women's Club president, Elder in the Presbyterian Church, Director of the Lompoc Boys and Girls Club, and teacher of English as a second language to Mong residents of Lompoc. She was a humanitarian and a beautiful human being who will be missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held in the Lompoc Presbyterian Church on Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. followed by burial in the Lompoc Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary