Marge Angeline Mattson

August 17, 1922—June 5, 2020

“Clean up your plate or you’ll get more.” “Wipe your feet.” “Take your hat off indoors.” “Hang up your coat.” “Are they wearing that?” “I thought you’d like that.” “Make up your bed.” “Don’t just stand there in the corner, mix around and talk with everyone.” “Oh, box it up, I’ll take my salad to go.”

These are all the words of our Mother as she taught us humor, caring, understanding, responsibility, politeness, respectfulness, and kindness.

Our Mom passed away Friday morning on June 5, 2020 at the age of 97.

She was a strong woman who grew up in the Great Depression of the 1920’s and 1930’s. She knew how to make a dollar stretch. She only bought groceries on sale, cut milk with powdered milk, cut dishwashing detergent with water, and made good use of the prized meat freezer her and Dad saved for. That was a big deal in our household. She made and mended all of our clothing until we started wearing uniforms in the Catholic schools.

Mom grew up in Tabor, Minnesota, raised by her sisters as her Mother passed away before Mom was a year old. She was poor and made some money babysitting her nieces and nephews in close by East Grand Forks, Minnesota. She was the only sibling to graduate High School where she then went on to business school in Minneapolis and met our Father, Richard.

They married after WWII in 1946 and headed West to Spokane Washington where she had three children: Ray (Kate), Rod, and Mary Ann. In 1956, she loaded 3 little kids in a car, by herself, moved the small family to Astoria, OR where our Father was waiting stationed in the Coast Guard. In Astoria, she had a fourth child, Maureen, who died from SIDS six months later.

Mom was always active. As a young Mother, she volunteered at our schools; when Mary Ann started first grade, Mom started working during the school hours. She was home when we left for school and home for us after school. As we got older, Mom went to work for Sears on First Ave in Seattle as an Auditor working there over 30 years until retiring at age 62.

After retirement, she volunteered more, traveled, bowled twice a week, went for walks every day, and organized family and friends gatherings.

Mom was a volunteer. She couldn’t just sit home after retirement, she volunteered at St Bernadette’s Parish in Burien and the Burien Senior Center until she was in her 90’s.

Mom traveled. She went to Reno a few times a year with her niece Joyce and great niece, Marlene. She, also, traveled the USA and internationally with her Sister-in-Law, Audrey.

Mom was a daily walker. Over the years, while walking, she would find money in the street—coin and folding. She kept it in a special jar, and when we counted it up, it was over $150.00. She walked up until age 97. She bowled in two leagues averaging between 140 and 148. She has several awards for high games and series. She bowled at Highline Lanes until she was 95!

Mom arranged gatherings of family and friends at her house in Burien. “It’s a beautiful weekend, we better have a barbeque in the back yard on Sunday.” Then she’d make it happen. Every holiday was celebrated by family and friends at her house. She hosted two “Card Ladies” afternoons at her house where they played different card and board games. These were two separate groups of ladies too. She loved people getting together.

Everyone she came across, she’d make them feel important, and upon leaving, she’d tell them, “I’ll pray for you.” She was very spiritual and a devout Catholic.

Mom was preceded in death by the following immediate family members:

Her Mother, Anna

Her Father, Charles

Brother, Baby Boy

Sister, Annie

Brother, Charles

Brother, Johnny

Sister, Pauline

Sister, Mary

Sister, Emma

Brother, Frank

Sister, Susie

Sister, Julia

Brother, Stephen

Brother, Joe

Sister, Helen

Sister, Agness

She was special. We miss and love you Mom.

Instead of sending flowers or cards, please make a donation in Mom’s name, Marge Mattson, to:

St Bernadette Parish

1028 SW 128th Street

Seattle, WA 98146

206 242 7370