Karin Mattson, 1934-2019

Published 1:00 am Saturday, September 7, 2019

Funeral services for Karin Mae Mattson, 84, of Albert Lea will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St. Theodore Cemetery in Albert Lea.

Karin Mattson

Karin died Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, at St John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. She was born Dec. 22, 1934, to Sven and Dorothy (Smith) Christofferson in Minneapolis,  where she belonged to and was baptized at Augustana Lutheran Church. After moving to Brooklyn Center, she belonged to and was confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church. She graduated from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis.

On March 31, 1952, Karin was united in marriage to Lyle F. Quimby. He preceded her in death on a Navy plane that went down at sea in November 1956. On July 29, 1961, Karin married Thomas M. Mattson and they moved to Albert Lea, where Tom taught school. She was a homemaker when the children were young and then later worked at the American Legion club, Four Seasons Coffee and Church Offset Printing before retiring.

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Karin lived in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, Bermuda and Albert Lea. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church, where she was a member of Circle 21, served at funerals and participated in women’s meetings. She was a Naeve Hospital Auxiliary volunteer, Hospice volunteer and Senior Citizens Center volunteer. She was a Gold Star wife. She was part of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she served terms as president of both Albert Lea and Brooklyn Center. She also served many chairmanships and several officer’s positions and was a lifetime member.

Karin is survived by three sons and one daughter, Lyle F. Quimby and wife, Nancy, of Blaine,  Dean C. Quimby of Rochester, John P. Mattson of St. Peter and Cheryl A. Behrends and husband, Russell, of Albert Lea; grandchildren Heather Pliska of Albert Lea, Adam Quimby and wife, Heather, of Glenville, Christine Behrends and fiance, Cody, of Albert Lea, Matthew Behrends of Albert Lea, Stephanie Behrends of Albert Lea, Nathan and Kenneth Quimby of Hayward, California, and Abigail and Olin Mattson of St. Peter; nine great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Judith Fairbanks of Coon Rapids and Jo Johnson and husband, Mark, of Duluth; and several nephews, nieces, cousins and very special friends.

She was preceded in death by first husband, Lyle F. Quimby, in November 1956; second husband, Thomas M. Mattson, in September 2004; two sons, infant Mark Allen Quimby and Douglas Paul Quimby; uncle, Allen Smith; parents Sven and Dorothy Christofferson; and in-laws Ensin and Cecelia Mattson.

Memorials are preferred to Mayo Hospice, First Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary or the donor’s choice.