Gladys Rose Mattson

Gladys Rose Zach Mattson passed away peacefully at the age of 105, November 14, 2024, in Ronan, Montana. Gladys was preceded in death by husband Toivo Matt Mattson, father Joseph Thomas Zach; mother Ella Elizabeth Bistricky, brothers Vernon Joseph Zach, Ernest Milton Zach, and daughter-in-law Cynthia Mattson. 

Born on August 12, 1919, on a productive 160-acre farm in Johnson County, Iowa near the town of Swisher. Gladys was raised in a community of Bohemian immigrants, farmers who had share cropped areas near Prague. They passed on a keen interest in the natural world, including foraging and identifying local medicinal plants. She lived there during the Great Depression, before plumbing and electricity, refrigeration, or cars and she forever considered herself a "farm girl who liked her hands in the dirt." Gladys was the first female to attend Shueyville high school, commuting there on horseback and driving one of the area's first automobiles. She finished her formal education studying business at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Her intelligence and self-sufficiency earned her diverse work experiences starting as a schoolteacher in Iowa, then as an accountant in Cedar Rapids until the outbreak of World War II. She went on to significantly contribute to the war effort as a master draftswoman at Douglas Aircraft in El Segundo, California. After the war Gladys dedicated her life to homemaking, raising her six children on a farm which her earnings helped to purchase in Dayton, Minnesota. She worked as a seamstress/tailor at a men's clothing store, served on the local school board, and substitute taught at Dayton Public School. She taught Sunday school at Union Congregational Church in Elk River, Minnesota. At her retirement home in Harlingen, Texas she was an after-school tutor. Through these years she saw the introduction of television, space flight, computers, internet, and jet air travel. 

She treasured her family, traveling annually to care for grandchildren and teach them cooking and sewing while instilling in them her wit and moral compass and passing along her love of naturalism, thrift, and a generally positive outlook. Other hobbies included woodworking and carving, painting, crocheting, quilting, baking, and cross-country camping trips to most of the national parks. In 2013 Gladys moved to Ronan with her son, Dane where she enjoyed her time in the valley and with family. 

She is survived by her children, Gayle Annette Mattson Kollitz (Jim), Dane Toivo Mattson (Peggy), Jan Carlyle Mattson (Cindy), Kim Gerard Mattson (Sherril), Mark Duane Mattson (Judy), and Earl Douglas Mattson (Alva); her grandchildren, Erin Mattson Kollitz, Kathleen Mattson Kollitz Jegapragason, Annessa Rose Mattson, Jolene Katherine Mattson, Jenna Marie Mattson Lorenz, Malcom Bayne Mattson, Margot Marie Mattson, lan Lane Mattson, Roger Lane Mattson, Elias (Eli) Toivo Torppa, Anna Marie Mattson, and Erika Susanne Mattson and her great grandchildren Emma Marie Lawrence, Ayden Carlyle Burke, Eisley Collette Victorious, Lila Kollitz Jegapragason, Max Kollitz Jegapragason, Georgene Gladys Smattson, Maisie Mae Staniunas and Lola Grace Staniunas. 

The family is very thankful to the staff at St Lukes' Extended Care for all the love and supportive care you gave Gladys. Contributions in memory of Gladys can be directed to St. Lukes' Extended Care c/o Resident Council. Cremation has taken place; a family service is planned at Dupont Cemetery near Swisher, Iowa, with the date to be determined.