Mary A. Mattson

Funeral Services for Mary A. Mattson will be conducted from the Adullam Lutheran Church northeast of Bertrand, Nebraska on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Gary Panko, officiating. Interment will be in the Adullam Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Marie Anna "Mary" Mattson, 99 years of age, of rural Bertrand, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2007 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Mary was born September 20, 1907 on a farm in Gosper County, near Smithfield, Nebraska, the fourth of six children of William and Emma (Ziems) Schleeter. Mary received her education in Gosper County from the District #64 School. She was baptized on October 13, 1907 at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield. On July 3, 1921 she was confirmed in German at the Hope Lutheran Church. She was an active member at the Hope Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School for ten years.

On September 6, 1933 she was united in marriage to Oscar Mattson and to this union three children were born: Roma Jean, DeLoris and Darryl. They made their home on a farm north of Bertrand, in Phelps County. The couple engaged in farming and raised livestock, Mary enjoyed life on the farm working side-by-side on the farm with Oscar. On June 7, 1993 she was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar. Mary continued to reside on the farm until October of 2006, when she moved to Prairie View Gardens in Kearney, Nebraska for respite care.

At the time of her passing, Mary was a member of the Adullam Lutheran Church, where she also taught Sunday School for many years. She was a devoted wife and mother. Mary enjoyed raising chickens, gardening, teaching Sunday School and made many quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She enjoyed many friendship bonds formed being part of several birthday groups through the years.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two daughters: Roma Jean Garrison and her husband, Dwayne of Beatrice, Nebraska and DeLoris Miller and her husband, Dean of Cozad, Nebraska; one son, Darryl Mattson and his wife, Sherry of Bertrand; seven grandchildren: Kevin Garrison and his wife, Veronica of Lincoln, Nebraska, Amy Fahnholz and her husband, Dale of Kearney, Joy Williams and her husband, Barry of Indianola, Nebraska, Nathan Miller and his wife, Tiffany of West Lafayette, Indiana, Shawn Miller and his wife, Angela of Wilbur, Nebraska, Mark Mattson and his wife, Amy of Elm Creek, Nebraska, and Krin Mattson of Omaha, Nebraska;
thirteen great-grandchildren: Jacqui, Kelli, Katie and Amber Garrison, Jenny Fleming and her husband, Mike, Bryan and Jack Fahnholz, Blake and Trenton Williams, Grace and Jadan Miller and Liam and Leah Mattson; one great-great grandchild, Ethan Fleming and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers: Edward, Albert and Walter and two sisters: Dena Knispel and Alma Mattson.

Mrs. Mattson will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory and suggested to the Adullam Lutheran Church or donor's choice.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.