Lendall Matuska

Lendall Matuska March 1, 1920 - November 29, 2014

Lendall (Len) Matuska (94) Fargo, passed away Nov. 29, 2014 at Bethany Retirement Living. He was born March 1st, 1920 south of Tyler, ND, and later moved to Wahpeton, ND, graduating from high school in 1939. He graduated from the State School of Science in 1941 and worked as an auto body painter and repairman. Enlisting before WWII, he served in the Army Ordinance until being honorably discharged in 1945 and married the Love of his life Patricia Jean Hughes, Omaha, NE and were happily married for 68 years.

Len returned to the State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND and graduated the second time in 1949, just after Jean Louise was born. He worked at Tri-State Electric doing appliance repair and wiring. He began working as a commercial construction electrician for Modern Electric, Fargo, ND in 1956, helped repair Fargo after the 1957 tornado and moved the family to Fargo in 1962. Len was a jack-of-all-trades working with and teaching his sons and updating and improving his Fargo home.

He served as a Boy Scout Master for many years. Len liked cooking pastries and was known for his Valentine's frosted cinnamon-maraschino cherry heart coffee bread, caramel rolls, and Rosettes. He was quick to dive into construction projects and briefly worked helping his sons in their business ventures.

Patricia and Len were active dancers into their 80's. Len was a great story-teller. His legacy lives on in all the buildings he helped wire that stand today. He enjoyed the lakes, camping and fishing and vegetable gardening. He entered another phase "rough-housing" with his grandchildren often.

He is survived by his children: 3 daughters: Jeanette Wardwell, Vergas, MN; Jean (Rick) Nelson, Tacoma, WA; Carol Garland, Fargo; 4 sons: Paul (Sherri) Matuska, Fargo: Patrick Matuska, Fargo: Mark Matuska, Bismarck, ND; Michael Matuska, Hawley, MN; 9 grandchildren: Sarah Wardwell, Mandan, ND; Brian Wardwell, Fargo; Bridget Wardwell, Moorhead, MN; Christopher Nelson, Tacoma, WA; Tamara and Stephen Rockwell, Tacoma, WA; Faith Shovien and family, Patsy Garland, Fargo: Samantha Matuska, Fargo; Christopher Flaten, West Fargo, ND; and Joseph Matuska, Bismarck, ND; 7 great-grandchildren: Ellie Derkey, Moorhead, MN; Donavan Nelson;  Austin Nelson, David Rockwell, Brianna Rockwell, Sara Webb, all Tacoma, WA; his 92 yr. old brother, Russell Matuska, Casper, WY and his 4-legged friends Karlie, Sadie and Shadow.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; his parents, Joseph and Jessie and his young sister, Vivian. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo.