The funeral service for Gertrude Marjorie Mattson will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Daphne Hamborg will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, as well as one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in the Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran Cemetery.

Gertrude Mattson passed away on May 1, 2012, in Albert Lea. She was 87 years of age.

Gertrude was born to Gilbert and Sally (Benson) Helland on Oct. 30, 1924, in Mansfield Township. She graduated from Emmons High School and was a resident of Freeborn County her whole life. On Oct. 8, 1943, she married Melvin Mattson at the Lime Creek Lutheran Church, and together they raised five children.

Gertrude was a homemaker and helped around the farm. She enjoyed sewing, making quilts, embroidering, entertaining, traveling and fishing at Crane Lake with her family. She was a member of the Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran Church and participated in the church circle, WELCA, and altar guild, as well as teaching Sunday school. She enjoyed working with her many beautiful violet plants.

Gertrude is preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Lester (Maxine) Helland and Rudolph (Jean) Helland; sisters: Velma (Frank) Cunningham, Leona (Harold) Bye and Esther Scott; brother-in-law, Herb Schewe; and sisters-in-law, Arlene Erickson and Karen Helland; and and in-laws Ludvig and Dora Mattson.

Gertrude is survived by her husband, Melvin Mattson of Albert Lea; children: Elaine (Jerry) Jahnke of Alden, Eunice (Gary) Newman of Alden, Daryl (Sharon) Mattson of Alden, Dennis (Nancy) Mattson of Alden and Dean (Linda) Mattson of Alden; 14 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; sister, Marvel Schewe of Albert Lea; brothers: Glenn (Alicia) Helland of Albert Lea and Floyd (friend Penny Nelsen) Helland of Albert Lea; brothers-in-law: Glenn (Yvonne Enser) Erickson of Conger and George Scott of Massachusetts.