Kenneth Arthur Matson

Our father and friend Kenneth Arthur Matson went to be with God on Thursday, October 1, 2015, at the age of 89. Kenneth Arthur Matson was born on September 29, 1926, to Andrew and Andrine (Amlund) Matson, in Canton, South Dakota. The family soon moved to Fargo, North Dakota briefly, and then to Valley City, North Dakota in 1929, where Kenneth’s father worked as a pressman for the Valley City Times-Record. He attended College High and graduated from there. He served in the United States Navy near the end of WWII on a minesweeper in the southern Pacific. He returned to North Dakota and attended UND and received a degree in Journalism in 1950. On August 14, 1949, he was united in marriage to his wife of the next 58 years, Joanne Olson. Together they raised five children, Jeff, Kristi, Mark, Monte and Steve. In 1953, Ken established and locally ran Ken Matson Studio of Photography for over 62 years. In 1975, Kenneth received his Masters in Photography. He garnered many awards for his portraits having been displayed at North Dakota Professional Photographer’s conventions, as well as four of his prints having been displayed in the National Loan Collection. He also taught photography classes at VCSU. He enjoyed spending time taking scenic pictures and always had his camera with him Ken was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, American Legion, VFW, and a former member of Kiwanis. He had also been a member of the drum and bugle corps and enjoyed listening to good music. He also liked to volunteer at the Barnes County Museum. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a son, Monte, a brother, Robert Matson and a sister, Jeannie Meister. Kenneth is survived by sons, Jeffrey and Mark, both of Valley City, Steve of Minneapolis; a daughter, Kristi (Roger) Youle, Sanborn, North Dakota; grandchildren Natasha Matson, Valley City, Aron (Serena) Henke, Walcott, North Dakota and Michael Matson, Independence, Missouri. Four great grandchildren, Terrance, Dylan, Aurora and Taylor also survive. The memorial service for Kenneth will be 2 pm Wednesday, October 7, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Valley City. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook for Kenneth may be found at www.oliver-nathanchapel.com

Kenneth Arthur Matson

September 29, 1926 - October 1, 2015