Mardella Marie Matteson

Mardella Matteson, age 94, of Benson passed away March 27, 2023, at Scandi Haven Village Memory Care Unit in Benson, Minnesota.  Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 12, 2023, from noon until 1 p.m. at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson, followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m.  Burial will be at the Hillside Cemetery at Rosholt, South Dakota at a later date.  Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mardella was born June 15, 1928, to Aloysius and Anna (Moellenhoff) Bonzelet on their farm near Browns Valley, MN. Mardella is the oldest of three children. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Browns Valley.  She attended the local country school for eight years.  Mardella graduated from high school at the West Central School of Agriculture at Morris, MN, in 1945, majoring in business.

Mardella married Myron Howard Matteson on June 24, 1946, at Foley, MN. Following their marriage, they resided in Rosholt, SD, where Myron was parts manager at Werner Chevrolet and Implement and Mardella was employed as their bookkeeper.   Their marriage was blessed with two children, Loran Cyril Matteson and Lynne Marie Matteson. While living in Rosholt Mardella was president of the American Legion Auxiliary, den mother of the Cub Scouts and served as an officer of the local P.T.A.

In the fall of 1962, the family moved to Benson, MN, where they operated the Dairy Queen and Myron’s Place. Mardella later was employed at James Photo Studio. Myron died in 1968.  Following Lynne’s high school graduation, Mardella and Lynne moved to Salem, Oregon, in 1969.  Her son, Loran, was serving in the U. S. Air Force stationed in Libya, Africa, at that time.  Mardella was employed as bookkeeper/secretary for the Highway Division of Public Works Department, Marion County, Salem, OR.  Mardella was with her significant other, Frank “Ike” Captain from 1977 until his death in 2000.

In 2001 Mardella moved from Salem back to Benson where she resided in a townhome.  Mardella enjoyed her retirement years with her family and many friends.  She especially enjoyed family gatherings and holidays.  She attended Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church and enjoyed attending Bible Study with her daughter.  Mardella had served as treasurer of the Marathon Whist Club. She was an active member of Bjørgvin Lodge #10 of Sons of Norway, serving on the Executive Board of the lodge for many years. She made a Kransekake (Norwegian wedding cake) for each of her grandchildren’s weddings.  She enjoyed traveling (Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, National Parks, and many states), dancing, playing cards, fishing, doing genealogy and photography.  On occasion, while residing in Oregon, she would help her son on his commercial fishing boat on the Pacific Ocean.  In her younger years she enjoyed hunting pheasants, deer, and even shot an elk.

Mardella is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lynne & Ronald Orvik of Benson, MN, grandchildren, Lee (Sara) Orvik of Cambridge, MN; Thea (Josh) Lowman of Cambridge, MN; Scott (Kelly) Orvik of Annandale, MN; and Kelly Matteson Hill of Salem, OR.  She has seven great grandchildren, Ella & Josie Orvik, Ava, Keagen & Anya Lowman, and Bergen & Cullen Orvik.  She is also survived by her sister Idella Kutz of Foley, MN, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her son and daughter-in-law, Loran and Anita Matteson in 2019, her husband, Myron, her significant other, Ike, her parents, Al and Anna Bonzelet, her brother, Cyril, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces.