Class of 1951
1951 Maroon Spotlight
Norma Severe
Football Queen 50-51, Annual Princess 47-48, Student Council 47-51, Student Council Secretary 50-51, Annual Staff 49-51, Office Staff 48-51, Girls State 49-50, Home Room President 48-49, Football Queen Business Manager 48-49, Junior Play 49-50, Class Assembly 48-49, Student Director Sophomore Assembly 49-50.
1951 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Norma Jean Severe is the 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Severe, 1315 Elm street. The 1950 football queen of Perry high school, Norma plans to further her studies at Oklahoma A. & M. college. Norma has attended school in Perry, Fairfield, Ill., Tulsa, and Orlando. A member of the student council and the school annual staff, Norma is also a member of Rainbow and R.R.F. She was in her junior and senior class plays along with being a member of the National Honor society. She also attended Girls’ State a year ago and was annual princess in 1948.
Norma Jean (Severe) Vanbiber
September 28, 1933 – December 6, 2021
Norma Jean Severe Vanbiber died peacefully in her sleep on Monday morning, December 6, 2021.
Norma was born September 28, 1933, in Perry, Oklahoma, to her parents, Otto and Irma (Nida) Severe. She met Russell Vanbiber when he moved to Perry, Oklahoma, in 8th grade. They married on August 5, 1954, and enjoyed 65 years of marriage. Norma attended Oklahoma State University and worked in the University’s financial aid office.
During their many corporate transfers, Mom always made sure her children knew they were “home” no matter where the family moved. She was happiest surrounded by her family, talking with her many friends, playing bridge, spending time studying the Bible and participating in Sunday school class and worshiping with family and friends. Norma took greatest pride in her three sons, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Norma was the beloved wife of Russell “Russ” Vanbiber, Jr.; loving sister of Don and wife Virginia Severe, Leroy and wife Gail Severe and John and wife Karen Severe; devoted mother of Russell Carl Vanbiber III, Craig Alan Vanbiber and his wife, Jamie Gautreau Vanbiber, Scott Evan Vanbiber and his wife, Melissa Daniels Vanbiber; dearest Grandma of Russell Vanbiber IV, Linda Vanbiber, Rebecca Vanbiber, Hannah Vanbiber Wagner and husband, Ben Vanbiber Wagner, Sarah Yepishin and husband, Sergei Yepishin, and Sam Vanbiber and Zack Vanbiber; Great-Grandma of Isaiah, Simon and Mila Yepishin; and aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Don Severe and Leroy Severe, her sister-in-law, Loretta Faye Carson, and brother-in-law, Stanley Carson.
The service will be livestreamed. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Norma’s memory to the church she loved and in which she was active for twenty-two years, Cy-Fair Christian Church, 9730 Grant Rd., Houston, TX 77070. Burial will follow several days later in Perry, Oklahoma.