Career
Severtson had been working as a farmer since the 1960s. In 1982 he joined the Olds College Board of Governors and served his first stint until 1989. Severtson was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1989 Alberta general election.
He would defeat five candidates in that election including George Flake who went on to lead the Alberta Political Alliance.
Severtson introduced Bill 212 The Teaching Profession Amendment Acting. The bill was opposed strongly by the Alberta Teachers Association as it would have made membership in the union optional for those in the teaching profession.
The bill was withdrawn voluntarily but was later reintroduced in February 1995 as Bill 210. The second bill was defeated on second reading 56 to 12 on a recorded division.
In September 1995 Severtson along with four other Modern Language Association"s joined the board of directors for 668344 Alberta Limited. founded by Calgary Shaw Modern Language Association Jon Havelock.
The company became unofficially known as Tory Oil. The company drew the attention of ethics Commissioner Robert Clark who had a public show down with Havelock in 1997. Severtson was re-elected to his third term in the 1997 Alberta general election.
In 1997 Severtson chaired the School Facilities Task Force.
The task force under his leadership wrote a report after extensive public consultation. The report warned about student population growth in under served areas and lack of money for infrastructure.
The report was submitted to be enacted by former Minister of Finance Gary March He retired at dissolution of the Legislature in 2001.
After retiring from provincial politics, Severtson re-joined the Olds College Board of Governors.
