Harlan C. ’Matt’ Mathison

Harlan C. Mathison, age 85, of Moorhead, MN, died Wednesday, March 3, 2010, in MeritCare Hospital, Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, ND.Harlan Clarence, also known as Matt, was born on February 1, 1925, to Clarence Ludvig and Rasmine Petrea Hansen Mathison in Flaxville, Daniels County, Montana. After his father died in 1927, the family moved to Lake Crystal, Minnesota, where he grew up and attended school, graduating from high school in 1943. He served in the United States Navy during WWII. In 1946, he entered St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, graduating in 1949. He went to work for Cargill, Inc. at their Spencer, Iowa office in August of 1949. He married Zona A. Larson on November 26, 1949, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Scarville, Iowa. They were transferred to Des Moines, Iowa; Wilson, North Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in 1955, to Fargo-Moorhead. Matt retired from Cargill in 1987.His hobbies include tennis and family research. He traveled to Norway and Denmark three times, Denmark being the birthplace of his mother.Harlan is survived by his wife, Zona of Moorhead, MN; son, Mark of St. Cloud, MN; niece, Judy Hanson of Lake Crystal, MN and several cousins and many friends.He was preceded in death by his son, Rick, his parents, infant brother, Donald and sister and brother-in-law, Willis and Alice Hanson.In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to CCRI Creative Care for Independent Living, Elim Lutheran Church or donor's choice.