Mary Matkin

PLENTYWOOD ? Funeral services for Mary Matkin will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11. Pastor Larry Pierson will officiate at the service at the First Congregational Church in Plentywood; interment will be in Plentywood Memorial Cemetery. Mary died Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 6, 2004, at Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home in Plentywood; she was 97.

Mary was born at Logansport, Ind., Jan. 23, 1907, the daughter of Alda and Lula (Leazenby) Fitzer. Her father died when she was 7; and in about 1917, the family moved to Montana and settled in the Wanso community, south of present-day Redstone. Beginning when she was in the seventh and eighth grade, she lived in Plentywood with the Zeidler family while she attended schools and three generations of the Zeidlers have remained "as close as family" since. Later, she lived with the C.S. Nelson family ? and with Mr. Nelson's coaching, she became an excellent speller. She graduated from Plentywood High School in 1926. It seemed that numbers were a passion (she should have been an accountant!) and, self-taught using a book and a record, she became a skilled typist. With her lifelong passion to have things done … promptly and correctly, she began her working career as a printer's devil at the Plentywood Herald. She married Forrest Matkin, June 3, 1926, at Poplar.

Mary and "Frosty" began their marriage as the Great Depression began. They found that their frugality and hard work would overcome the obstacles of the "tough times." Mary loved cooking, and was an excellent wife, mother and grandmother, even as she continued her work as a secretary: for Gordon Holte in Farmer's Union Insurance, later at the Sheridan County Extension Office for Bille Janssen and Pauline Deem, and even after retirement, as bookkeeper for her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lou and Morris Nelson at The Vogue.

Forrest was the center of her life, and Mary loved their life at the ranch near Redstone. When "Frosty's" declining health forced their retirement to Plentywood in about 1964, the ranch was sold, but it still remains "The Matkin Place" today. Mary was a lifelong member of the First Congregational Church and Phoebe Division of the Ladies Aid, and belonged to the Redstone Homemakers Club and the Sheridan Garden Club. She was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star, first in the Lacy Chapter in Redstone, then of Oro-Y-Plata Chapter in Plentywood. She was Past Worthy Matron of the Lacy Chapter and currently a member of Riverside Chapter in Wolf Point.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Mary Lou Nelson and her husband Morris, of Plentywood. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Mary Ann Bottman and her husband John of Billings and Jo Arlene Ausk and her husband Jim of Terry; and by great-grandchildren Andy Bottman and his wife Jenni, Tim Bottman and his wife Tereza, all of Portland, Ore., Brandon Ausk and his wife Karlee of Seattle; and Jamie Crisafulli and her husband Richie, and their children (Mary's great-great-grandchildren) Jameson, Nelson, and Basil of Glendive. Locally, she is also survived by nieces Phyllis Johnson and her husband Maynard, Geri Glover and her husband Dean, and Marcia Kay Nelson and her husband Gary. Besides her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest, on their 57th anniversary, June 3, 1983; and by her brother, Jason Grantham; and three sisters, Leora Lester, Rachel Garrett and Lucille Dahley.

Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements.