Roy Melvin Mattson

Roy Melvin Mattson passed away in Bothell, Washington on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at the age of 90 years old. Roy was born on a farm near Roseau, Minnesota (ten miles south of the Canadian border) to Robert and Margaret Mattson on March 13, 1921.

Roy's mother, Margaret, had immigrated to Minnesota from Norway in 1902 and Roy's father, Robert, had immigrated from Sweden in 1907. In 2007, when Roy was 86 years old, he fulfilled a lifelong goal to visit the birthplace of his mother in central Norway and the birthplace of his father in northern Sweden.

Roy's parents met in northern Minnesota after Margaret's first husband died. When Roy's parents married in April 1915, Margaret was a widow with two young children, Anna and Alfred. Roy was born six years later in March 1921. Roy's parents and their children (Anna, Alfred, and Roy) lived on a farm southeast of Roseau. Robert and Margaret had purchased their farm in 1929 when Roy was 8 years old.

Since Roy's parents spoke only Swedish and Norwegian at home, Roy did not learn English until he attended first grade at 6 years old. Roy walked to the elementary grade school located about 1-1/2 miles from his parents' farm. Roy graduated from eighth grade in 1935 at 14 years old. For several years after his graduation, Roy continued to help his parents on their farm until Roy eventually purchased his own property adjoining his parents, prior to being married in 1945.

Roy and Norma Ellen (McKenzie) began dating in the early 1940's. After WW II, they were married in Roseau, Minnesota, on December 2, 1945 in a small church building decorated for their wedding with cuttings from spruce trees, white ribbon, and candlelight. Roy was 24 years old. Norma was 23 years old. (They had actually met each other as young children before they attended elementary grade school. However, Roy and Norma did not realize that they had met as young children until Norma shared a childhood memory about seeing a peacock when she was about five years old.)

Roy and Norma built a house on their farm southeast of Roseau and lived there for ten years. Six children (five girls and one boy) were born and raised on their farm. Martha Ellen was born in 1947; Kathryn Joyce in 1948; Edith Rae in 1950; Rosella Teresa in 1952; Norma Jean in 1954; and LeRoy Elliott in 1955. Three more children were born while Roy and Norma and their family lived within the city limits of Roseau, Minnesota: Ralph Ruben in 1956; Helen Ann in 1958; and Alice Marie in 1960.

In the summer of 1962, Roy and Norma and their nine children moved to Seattle, Washington. Walter Marcus was born in Seattle in 1963. In January of 1964, Roy and Norma moved their family to Portland, Oregon. James Delmore, their 11th child was born in Portland in 1965 - the same year their first child graduated from high school in Portland. One year later in 1966, their second child graduated from high school in Portland.

Following their second child's high school graduation in 1966, Roy and Norma moved their family back to Seattle. (Their first two children had left home to attend college in Seattle.) Two years later, Roy and Norma and their family returned to Oregon and then moved on to Madera, California for a short time before returning again to the Pacific Northwest area. Their first four children (daughters) had married by February 1970. Roy and Norma raised their remaining children at various addresses in the Salem area and in St. Helens, Oregon. During the 1977-1978 school year, Roy and Norma and their youngest two children, Walter and James, spent one year in Visalia, California.

In 1970, Roy and Norma celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a family gathering in St. Helens, Oregon. In 1985, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with another family gathering in St. Helens, Oregon. In 1995, Roy and Norma celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Seattle, Washington with family and friends. Roy and Norma were married over 54 years before Norma passed away March 28, 2000 at the age of 77. After Norma passed away, Roy moved from Scappoose, Oregon back to Seattle in the fall of 2000.

Prior to retirement, Roy was employed in his younger years as an auto mechanic. Later, Roy became a carpenter and eventually, Roy became a journeyman cabinet maker. Roy spent many winter months during the 1950's working at a cabinet shop in Wisconsin. Roy was an excellent craftsman and could also repair any appliance - large or small. He taught his children many of his mechanical skills. (Even his daughters value their very own tool boxes!)

In the early 1970's, both Roy and Norma attended Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon to re-train for different jobs. Each received a two-year college degree in Real Estate Technology in 1972. After receiving his two-year college degree, Roy spent four years working as a real estate appraiser for Columbia County in St. Helens, Oregon.

After full-time employment, Roy and Norma became volunteer hosts for the Oregon State Parks. Their first assignment was in Astoria; then, Lincoln City and Newport; and then, Silver Falls State Park (east of Salem). On the weekend of July 4, 1989, Roy and Norma hosted the first Civil War Reenactment held in Oregon at Silver Falls State Park. Most of Roy and Norma's children and their spouses were present to help their parents conduct various activities during the 4th of July weekend.

In 1991, after three years at Silver Falls State Park, Roy and Norma managed a RV Park near Lincoln City for about a year before Norma's health began to fail. Roy and Norma then moved to Scappoose, Oregon where they lived in a rented farm house at the top of a hill with a view of the Columbia River. Both Roy and Norma were members of the Scappoose Church of Christ located at the bottom of the hill where they lived. After Norma passed away in the spring of 2000, Roy moved from Scappoose, Oregon back to Seattle in the fall of 2000 to be near his children and their families in the Seattle area.

On September 1, 2001, Roy married Penny Landis at the Mountlake Terrace Church of Christ where Roy was a member of the congregation. Roy and Penney were married ten years as of September 1, 2011. During their ten years of marriage, they enjoyed living at Green Acres Mobile Home Park in Bothell, Washington.

Roy is survived by his wife, Penny, and his eleven (11) children as mentioned earlier by name: Martha Ellen, Kathryn Joyce (Kathy), Edith Rae (Rae), Rosella Teresa (Rose), Norma Jean, LeRoy Elliott, Ralph Ruben, Helen Ann, Alice Marie (Ali), Walter Marcus (Walt), and James Delmore (Jim); also, 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Following cremation, Roy's ashes will be buried next to his deceased wife, Norma Ellen, in the Mattson family burial plot in Roseau, Minnesota. Penny and Roy's children are grateful to Evergreen Washelli in Bothell, Washington for handling the burial arrangements.