Clara Matson

Clara Matson, age 104, from Fosston, MN passed away on Sunday, January 9th at Essentia Health Long Term Care in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday (January 15th) at Bethel Assembly Church in Fosston with Pastor John Marx officiating. Interment will be in Mamre Cemetery, rural Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Friday (January 14th) at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Clara Braaten Matson was born on June 6, 1906 in rural Bagley at the home of her parents Tollef and Olava Braaten. She grew up on her father's farm south of Bagley with her many brothers and sisters. Clara left school and home to work when she was just 13. She spent time working very hard in Duluth, Bemidji, North Dakota, and St Paul. When in Duluth, she worshipped at the Duluth Tabernacle where her faith grew deeper and stronger. Clara was united in marriage to Victor Matson on June 6, 1928. The Matson's lived in the Fosston area where Victor farmed. There Clara became a mother when Curtiss was born in 1929. These were difficult years in which to raise a family but Clara said "we didn't know it. And we were happy... we sang." In 1958 Clara and Victor moved to Tacoma, Washington where he did landscaping and carpentry and she cared for shut-ins. In 1976 Clara and Victor moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma where they lived until 1981 when they returned home to Fosston. Wherever they lived, Clara was active in her church community and as a faithful prayer warrior on behalf of her friends and family. Clara looked forward to meeting Jesus for many of her last years. She is at rest and content at her saviour's side today. Clara passed away on Sunday, January 9th at the First Care Nursing Home in Fosston at the age of 104 years, 7 months and 3 days.Clara is survived by her sister Viola (Bob) Binsz, three children, Curtiss (Lillian) of Broken Arrow, OK, Verne (Carol) of Babbitt, MN, Marlowe (Verda) of Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada as well as a large number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren living across the United States and Canada, and in Japan. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Victor in 2007; parents Tollef and Olava Braaten; Otterstad siblings Mary, Mabel (Carl) Klabo, Thora (Oscar) Heidal, Albert (Leona), Olga (Amund) Knutson, Julia (Francis) Schulkey; Braaten siblings, Clara's twin Arthur (Evelyn), Thelma (Conrad) Matson, Oliver (Eva), Clifford (Hazel); her daughter Sharon and son-in-law Bud Moody, her daughter-in-law, Merelyn (Verne); her granddaughter, Pamela (Curtiss); her grandson Charles (Marlowe); her great-granddaughter Heather (Marlowe, Philip); her great-great granddaughter Kiya (Marlowe, Charles, Tiffany). Clara Matson leaves a legacy of faithful life and worship to each of us. Blessed be her memory.