Ray Mattern

Minot

Ray Olaf Mattern, 85, Minot, ND, died Friday, March 7, 2025 at Souris Valley Care Center in Velva, ND.

Ray was born January 28, 1940, son of Elbridge and Viola (Armstrong) Mattern at the Kenmare Hospital. He was raised in Tolley, Loraine, and Mohall, ND and graduated in 1958 from Mohall High School.

Ray married Valerie Altner in 1965 at the Lutheran Church in Noonan, ND. They made their home in Minot, ND, raising their three daughters and vacationing in British Columbia with family. Ray was a foreman at Allied Contractors building grain bins for many years.

Ray was a member of the Carpio Lutheran Church. He was an avid hunter of duck, geese and deer and loved fishing. He loved watching the Minnesota Twins, the Vikings, and Denver Broncos football games as well as the Super Bowls. Ray loved woodworking. He made several purple martin birdhouses and enjoyed watching them come back in the spring. Ray also made a rocking horse for his grandsons to share and one for his first great granddaughter (of course in pink). He also made homemade pies (especially apple), homemade lefse and enjoyed eating lutefisk and meatball dinners. Ray was very active by gardening and canning for his family. He also raised Angelfish which he was very proud of and sold them to pet stores which needed them. In his younger years he would hunt rabbits with his cousin Gary Stranberg and sell them for 50 cents apiece. Ray was very proud of his coin collection which started when he was little. He called it his favorite hobby.

Ray married Marilyn Anderson in 2006, they spent 17 years together, and spent their retired years with their cats, walking and going to church on Sunday. Ray survived a few heart attacks, 3 bouts of COVID, and lymphoma. He was a very strong, stubborn guy who was persistent in taking care of his health.

For his 80th birthday, he bought a treadmill to improve his walking, but the doctor suggested he walk elsewhere instead as a treadmill would be too much for him. In his younger years, he had a Nordictrack set up in his living room to use every morning for his exercise.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 40 years, Valerie (Altner) Mattern, wife of 17 years, Marilyn (Anderson) Mattern; Siblings: Orville Mattern, Elsie (Robert) Aschenbrenner, Lois (Wesley) Horst, and Ardes (William) Heimbush; Brothers-in-Law: Robert Aschenbrenner, Lowell Sannes, and Wesley Horst; and Son-in-Law Gary Dunkel.

Ray is survived by: Tammy (Darin) Gardner, Mandan, ND, Laurie Mattern, Minot, and Michelle (Paul) Bail, Jamestown, ND; three grandchildren: Justin (Tonya) Mattern, Randy Mattern, and Keith Bail. Two great grandchildren: Karami Mattern and Maci Mattern. Siblings: Darlene Sannes, Poulsbo, WA, Sister-in-Law Norma Mattern, Minot, ND; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorials preferred to the Dementia Society

Visitation: Thursday, March 13, 2025 one hour prior to the service at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot

Funeral Service: Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 11 am at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot. The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed at the link on Ray’s webpage at www.thompsonlarson.com

Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot, ND.

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 11, 2025.