Donald Mathison
January 1, 1970 ~ January 13, 2004
Donald M. Mathison, 86, Fargo, died Tuesday, January 13, 2004, in his home.
Don was born on September 16, 1917, in Madison, South Dakota. He attended college in Madison before moving to Minneapolis where he graduated from business college.
He served as an officer in the U. S. Army with the American Division in the 132nd Infantry during World War II, stationed in the South Pacific, attaining the rank of captain. At the completion of his service he returned to Minneapolis where he married Leonabelle (Sunny) Hastings on September 15, 1945.
They made their home in Minneapolis until moving to Fargo in 1961 following the founding of Mathison Drafting Supply Co. in Fargo in 1958. Don established a branch of the company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1963. The company was renamed Mathison Company in 1971.
Don was a long-time member of the Fargo Lions Club and served as the club's president; he was active in the FM Engineers Club and the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers, who presented him with an Outstanding Service Award in 1979. He was active in regional and national reprographics industry organizations, serving on a number of boards.
After Don retired in 1983, the couple spent their winters in Florida, first in Boyton Beach and for the past nine years in Bonita Springs, and summers in Fargo and at Pelican Lake. As a member of the St. Leo Council #8877 of the Knights of Columbus, Bonita Springs, he was a volunteer at the Guadalupe Soup Kitchen, Immokalee, Florida.
He is survived by his wife, Leonabelle (Sunny); three daughters: Marilyn (Paul) Anstett, Fargo; Marjorie Mathison (Thomas) Hance, Hopkins, Minnesota; Marcia (Daniel) Rogers, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and grandchildren: Carolyn and Andrew Solares, Sarah and Tony Nasello, Paula Anstett, Joseph Anstett, Peter Anstett, Laura Hance, Jill Hance, Benjamin Rogers and Michael Rogers.
Funeral Service: Friday at 11 in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fargo with visitation one hour before the service.
Visitation: Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p. m. with a prayer service at 8 p. m. at Boulger Funeral Home and one hour before the funeral, at the church.
Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Minneapolis
Memorials to Hospice of the Red River Valley
A memorial servce in Bonita Springs will be scheduled at a later date.
Arrangements by Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Online guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
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