Mary Ann Elaine Mattson

Mary Ann Elaine Mattson, 79, of East Grand Forks, MN passed away at home with her family by her side on October 22, 2012. Mary Ann was born December 6, 1932 to Herbert and Ann Syverson Grover in Oak Park Township, Marshall County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Mary Ann lived in Oslo, MN until 1941 when her family moved to Grand Forks, ND. She attended Grand Forks Central High School. Mary Ann married Eugene "Jeep" Mattson June 27, 1950 at United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, ND. In 1951 they moved to his grandfather's farm north of East Grand Forks, MN where they have retained their residence. In 1973 they built a new home. Mary Ann painted and finished all of the woodwork in their new house. She took pride and enjoyed taking care of the yard, garden and flowers. Mary Ann was a talented artist. She did ceramics and porcelain dolls. She also was a good seamstress and made clothes for her family and many other people. Mary Ann was a partner in the farming operation and enjoyed hauling sugar beets. After the children got older she used to go to Phoenix for a month each year to visit her mother and drive her mother's car to California to visit her two brothers. In later years, Jeep and Mary Ann traveled together to Arizona, California, Texas, Florida and other states. Mary Ann was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) in 1999 which is a form of dementia. Her life has been affected by this disease ever since. She was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church and took part in many of the churches activities. She was very involved in her grandchildren's lives prior to her illness. She is survived by her husband Eugene "Jeep" Mattson, five children; Susan McDowell (Randy Carlson) Moorhead, MN; Christine McGaha (David) Lakeville, MN; Erick Mattson (Kathy) Grand Forks, ND; Scott Mattson (Tracey) East Grand Forks and Rebecca Marie Mattson, Scottsdale, AZ, eight grandchildren; Jessica, Molly, Nicole, Ryan, Nicholas, Jarrod, Tanner and Dylan, five great-grandchildren; Malia, Andrew, Palmer, Sawyer and Easton, one brother; Martin "Laddie" Grover (Linda) Orange, CA; half-sister Cleone Lewis, Chelmsford, MA and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, step-father Don Moore, mother-in-law Mathilda Mattson, sister Betty Lou St. George-Dietzel, Harris "Bud" Grover, special uncle and aunt Hubert and Clara Ginter and son-in-law Donald (Mac) McDowell. The family would like to thank Sanford Clinic of East Grand Forks with special thanks to Dr. Eric Pearson and Kelly Gahlon for the care and help given to Mary Ann over the last several years. Thank you also to the Sanford Home Health Care Aides for their continued assistance and support. We would also like to express special gratitude to the Hospice of the Red River Valley for the help they showed and delivered to her and our family. They provided medical supplies, equipment and more importantly the staff's personal contact with our family. This was truly indescribable help during these trying times. To our close neighbors Jim and Verna Lambert, June and Clyde Ziegelmann and Glenn Hanson a sincere note of thanks from our hearts. We're blessed to have you as our neighbors! Thank you to Bud Johnson for your blessings and on-going support from the Mattson Family. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 25th at Bethany Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks, MN. A Prayer Service will take place after the Visitation at 7:00 p.m. followed by cake and coffee. The Funeral Service for Mary Ann will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 26th at Bethany Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Funeral Service.