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Harold J. Mattson Obituary – 9/28/2018


Harold Jerome Mattson, age 94, of Dassel, passed away Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Harmony River Living Center of Hutchinson.

A memorial service will take place Friday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. at Stockholm Lutheran Church, rural Cokato, with the Rev. Mark Little officiating, followed by interment of the urn in the church cemetery.

There will be a time to gather with the family at the church one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be given to the Stockholm Lutheran Church, Cokato.

The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel is handling the funeral arrangements.

Harold was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Dassel, the son of Reuben B. and Edna Lavina (Forsberg) Mattson. He was baptized and later confirmed at the Stockholm Lutheran Church in rural Cokato.

Harold grew up on the family farm, attended Lake Jennie country school, and then graduated from the Dassel High School.

He was united in marriage to Loraine Shelton Jan. 27, 1946, at the Mattson farm. The couple made their home on the Mattson homestead, while Harold continued to farm with his father.

Harold was united in marriage to Helen Wigen Aug. 31, 1968, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Harold and Helen made their home in Litchfield for several years, before they moved to the north shore of Lake Jennie.

They later moved to a newly built home on the south shore of Lake Jennie, where they lived before moving to Cokato. In 1998, Harold and Helen moved to Dassel.

Harold continued to farm. Over the years, he raised free range turkeys, selling the turkey and eggs; milked dairy cattle; and raised crops on his land. He loved the land and worked hard to make a living for his family.

Harold loved music and enjoyed singing in the Litchfield Male Chorus, and the Stockholm Lutheran Church choir. He was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and enjoyed watching a ballgame.

He could often be found visiting with friends, and would get involved in the conversation and forget the time. He loved his family deeply, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Harold and Helen would often go out dancing, and Harold would be the first person on the dance floor at many weddings. He enjoyed playing dice and spent many hours playing cards with his grandchildren. He liked to travel, and had traveled to Arizona, Las Vegas, and even took a trip to Morocco for his son’s wedding.

Harold is survived by his wife, Helen Mattson of Hutchinson; children, Delmar (Suzanne) Mattson of Union, MO, Gordon Mattson of Minneapolis, Calla Beal of Minnetonka, and Darla (Loren) Nass of Dassel; and grandchildren, Stephanie (Al) Hansen, Scott (Lisa) Mattson, Ryan (Tina) Erickson, Alissa Nass, Katie (Russ) Atkinson, Lindsey (Chris) Beal, Christopher (Elisabeth) Beal, Erick Mattson, and Taylor (Justin) Fain.

He is further survived by great-grandchildren, Hunter Mattson, Boedy Erickson, Grady Erickson, Henry Atkinson, and Benny Klaus; and a sister, Donna Collison of Bemidji.

In addition to his first wife, Loraine, Harold was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Asplin; son, Gaylyn Wigen; his parents; and sisters, Lois Ritter, Rozanne Provencher, and Janet Luedtke.

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