Audrey J. Mattson

Audrey J. Mattson died on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the Kanabec Hospital in Mora. She was 82 years old.

She was born on Dec. 11, 1927 in Chicago, Ill. to Duke and Cora (Wilkens) Martens. In 1931 they moved from Chicago to Hillman Township and in 1965 she moved to Knife Lake Township where she has resided since.

She attended Wilkens Elementary School through eighth grade and graduated from Mora High School in 1944. She attended Macalaster College for one year. On Aug. 17, 1946 she was united in marriage to Carl Mattson at Hillman Baptist Church.

She worked at Land O’ Lakes drying plant, the Farmer’s Co-op Creamery, Harold Sandin Construction and at the Kanabec County Times. She was a charter member of the Kanabec County Commission on Aging where she served as secretary and treasurer for 34 years. She was a member of the Kanabec County Agricultural Society, serving as director many years, volunteered at Kanabec County Fair for 40 years, was a member of Hillman Homemakers and Hillman Community Club from when they were organized until they disbanded. She organized and managed the Mora senior dances for 24 years and started Travel with Audrey where she was involved in planning activities and trips for seniors for 36 years. She was also a 4-H leader while children were in 4-H and enjoyed traveling, reading and making quilts.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Duke and Cora; husband, Carl; one granddaughter in infancy and son-in-law, Laurie McConnell.

She is survived by her sons, Bill (Julie Haugen) Mattson of Elk River, Bob Mattson of Braham, David (Alisha) Mattson of Poulsbo, Wash. and Jim Mattson of Mora; daughter, Jean McConnell of Lake Tapps, Wash.; 10 grandchildren, Beth (fiancé Jon Mitchell) Mattson, Deb (Cris) Thell, Jason (Tammy) Voight, Jesse (Jackie Stigen) Voight, Jennifer (Fred) Lundin, Jamie Mattson, Sarah and Jacob Mattson, Katerina (Shaun) Lummus and Carl (Tracy Kubacki) Pullen; eight great-grandchildren, Steffan and Alec Hannah, Nolan and Jonah Thell, Lily and Morgan Voight and Mia and Joby Lummus; numerous stepgrandchildren; stepgreat-grandchildren and stepgreat-great-grandchildren; brothers, Gary (Ella) Martens and Don (Lenore) Martens of Mora; sister, Nancy (Don) Holzkamp of Davis, Ill; sister-in-law, Margaret Mattson of Seattle, Wash.; nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Mora with Rev. Vicki VanderVegt and Rev. Dean Oelfke officiating. Music is being provided by Gary and Rick Martens. Visitation will be on Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 from 5 until 8 p.m. at Dresser-Methven Funeral Home in Mora, as well as one hour prior to the service at church.

Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Beth Mattson, Deb Thell, Jason Voight, Jesse Voight, Jennifer Lundin, Jamie Mattson, Sarah Mattson, Jacob Mattson, Katerina Lummus and Carl Pullen. Memorials are preferred to the Kanabec History Center.

Arrangements by Dresser-Methven Funeral Home.