Milton K. Matson

Milton K. Matson

Milton K. Matson, 94, of Moorland, died Sunday January 23, 2011 at his home.       

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday January 28, 2011 at the Northfield Church of Christ with the Rev. Dale Harlow officiating.

Milton was born February 15, 1916 the son of Enos C. N and Margaret (Ketchum) Matson in Mora, Minnesota.  He later enlisted in the United States Air Force and later in the United States Army Air Force in which he was honorably discharged from both.

Milton or Milt as his friends called him, played cornet in school musical performances and a band post high school.  He sang in the college choir while attending Minnesota Bible College.  He enjoyed music all his life, entertaining family and friends with harmonica concerts in his later years.

Born with a wandering lust, Milton looked forward to traveling.  During WWII overseas tour he visited Casablanca, Cairo, the great pyramids, and the Sphinx, the Taj Mahal, Karachi and Calcutta India.  He got excited about loading the family into the car and driving off to visit relatives in distant towns and cities.  His goal for these trips was to complete the trip in less time than it had taken the previous time, so as they pulled into a gas station he'd tell the family, We'll stop here for a 3 minute rest break.  In 1962 he hitched up a pop-up camper to his 1953 Plymouth, loaded up Lucile and the 4 kids, and headed west for a 3 week vacation that is still remembered to this day. 

Family relationships were a big part of Milton's life.  He adored Lucile and honored his wedding vows to her til death do us part.  As his children grew up and moved away in different directions he started typing regular letters and sending them to help keep everyone abreast of news.  He helped teach his kids and grand kids to count by playing Wahoo, a board game, with them for hours at a time.

But perhaps the most important thing in Milton's life was his relationship with God and his Savior, Jesus Christ.  He tried to show love back to the loving, grace- giving God by serving in the church and by serving the people in his life wherever he could: sharing meals, writing encouraging notes, giving rides, helping financially, preparing taxes for the elderly persons through the Elderbridge program or by just lending a caring, sympathetic ear.  Milton even served others after his death by donating his body to science to assist with the training of medical students.  Milton's legacy is for us to rise to a higher more selfless and purposeful life of our own.

Those thankful for having shared in Milton's life include his wife, Lucile, four children, Enos (Janet) Matson, Marynell (Bill) Pooch, Pat (Gary) Jorgensen, Bettsi Clark, one sister, Elizabeth Brown, ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Mr. Matson was preceded in death by his parents.

Bruce-Graham Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Fort Dodge Area Funeral & Cremation Service, Bruce Funeral Home