Phyllis Mattson, 1927-2018

Published 1:00 am Saturday, May 12, 2018

Funeral services for Phyllis Jane Mattson, 90, of Emmons will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Mansfield Lutheran Church. The Revs. Don Rose and Kent Otterman will officiate. Interment will be at Mansfield Township Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church Monday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Phyllis Mattson

Phyllis died Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea.

Phyllis Jane Mattson was born Nov. 5, 1927, in rural Mansfield Township across from Mansfield Lutheran Church, the daughter of Frederick “Fred” and Hulda (Buenzow) Katzung. She was born in the same house in which her father was born.

She was a life time member of Mansfield Lutheran Church, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. The land for the church was donated by her grandparents Valentine and Christiana Katzung. Her family moved to Conger when she was a young girl and her parents opened Fred’s Café in Conger.

Phyllis attended Conger Elementary School and graduated in 1947 from Albert Lea High School. Her mother cooked and baked for the cafe at their home. Needless to say, Phyllis had a superb teacher in the kitchen.

Phyllis met Leo Mattson at Mansfield Church Luther League. They were married June 17, 1947. Later, they enjoyed being chaperones for the youth Luther League.

Phyllis was a homemaker and prepared many lunches for the crews working on the farm. She enjoyed baking and shared her expertise with her daughters, as well as the Mansfield 4-H Club girls.

While serving as a 4-H leader, she enjoyed hosting bread baking days at her home for the girl members, sharing tips she had learned from her mother. Phyllis enjoyed embroidering dish towels, quilting, hardanger and fishing at their pond in the afternoon to have fish for dinner. She also made lap quilts for the residents at St. John’s Lutheran Community. Canning and freezing the garden produce was an annual ritual. Phyllis worked 13 years at O.K. Skyline Hardware and for her daughter, Cindy, at Hearing Aid Center in Albert Lea. She also cleaned homes for neighbors for many years.

Phyllis was a lifetime member of the neighborhood Homemakers Club. Crane Lake was a very big part of her life. While there, she looked forward to fishing, watching the wildlife and reminiscing with family and friends. It seemed nothing else mattered when she was there.

Phyllis is survived by three daughters, Joey (fiance, Leland DeWitt) Honsey, LaCinda “Cindy” (Mark) Peterson and Lori Olinghouse; two sons, Randy (Bernice) Mattson and Kjell Mattson; nine grandchildren, Jay (Lori) Honsey, Jeffrey (Tracy) Honsey, Sara (Jesse) Rooney, Chad (Lisa) Peterson, Jamer Lickteig, Peter Lickteig, Kyle (Caitlin) Mattson, Anna (Jessie) Ackelson and Dustin Mattson; and great-grandchildren Michelle, Amanda and Noah Honsey, Easton, Ryland and Camden Rooney, and Claire, Norah and Lane Peterson.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Hulda Katzung; father-in-law and mother-in-law Hjalmer and Ella Mattson; husband, Leo; brothers Sylvester “Sally” (Bernice) Katzung and Leo Katzung and Donna Katzung; son-in-law, Dean Honsey; niece, Barb Kirsch; nephew, Loren Brune; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Carmen and Karl Brune.

A special thank you to the staff at Good Samaritan Society, Oak Park Place, Mayo Clinic Health System and Hospice for the care they provided.