June Mattson

June Mattson passed away peacefully on September 24, 2016, at her home in Lower Presto after a nine-year struggle and courageous battle with multiple medical problems.



June was born on June 27, 1933, to Sydney Lawrence Shoell and Eva Priest in Blackfoot, Idaho.  She graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1951.  She married James (Jim) Mattson on November 20, 1951, in the Lutheran Pastor’s home on Shilling Street in Blackfoot, Idaho.  The couple lived for a short time in Oklahoma before Jim left to serve with the U.S. Army in Germany.  June returned to Blackfoot to reside with her sister until Jim’s return.



Jim and June lived and worked on a ranch near Gilmore, Idaho, for several years before returning to Lower Presto where they raised their family.  They remodeled the Lower Presto School House and have called that their home for more than 53 years.  June devoted her entire adult life to being an excellent homemaker, wife, and mother.  She always provided great meals and loved to share her wonderful baked goods.  She enjoyed the time she spent working in spud harvest for neighbors, Rone and Beth Clawson, and worked for a brief time at First American Title Company.  She always had a beautiful home and yard and enjoying sewing crafts to display in her home and to donate to church bazaars and family reunions.



As a young mother, June joined the Bethel Lutheran Church in Firth, Idaho, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School.  In 1953, at the urging of her mother-in-law, Clarice Mattson, June joined the Lutheran Church’s Ladies Aid group.  She served as President of the group on three different occasions.  Her last term as President was for nearly 15 years until her health began to fail.  She devoted her life to her Church and made many long and lasting friendships through her Church.  Most recently, she was very proud of the new stained-glass windows that were installed in the front of the Church as a backdrop for the Altar.



June loved to travel and often reminisced about the trips that she took with Jim and her sisters.  For many years, she and her sisters and all their kids spent a week each summer camping and fishing at North Fork of the Big Lost River--these trips were always a highlight for June.



One of June’s greatest enjoyments in life was attending the sporting events of her Kids, Grandkids, and Great-Grandkids.  Before her health failed, she was honored by Firth High School as the School’s “most loyal fan.”  Even after she was no longer able to attend the events, she never failed to ask how the athletes were doing in their various events and loved sharing that information with family and visitors.  June was an avid shopper, especially for clothing and jewelry, and enjoyed shopping from her wheelchair as recently as this past summer.



June will be remembered for her quiet, unassuming manner and willingness to always help others in need.



She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughters, Kathy (Wayne) Christiansen, Susan Mattson, and Julie (Todd) Brown; and son, Charles (Joni) Mattson, as well as a sister, Sharlene Butler, and 11 Grandchildren and 33 Great-Grandchildren.



She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved son, Carl (Joyce) Mattson; and siblings:  Alta Weaver, Darlene Johnson, James Shoell, Dezzie Underwood, Beatrice Stoddart, Roy Shoell, and Louella Chamberlain.



The family wishes to extend its gratitude to the many medical and nursing professionals, Home Health and Hospice staff, Idaho Kidney Center and Bingham Memorial Skilled Nursing Facility staff, friends, neighbors, and family, who were so kind to Mom over the past nine years, with a special thanks to Joni Mattson, Robert Baker, and Alicia Bolinder.



In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Bethel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 427, Firth, Idaho 83236.



Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 29, 2016 at the Bethel Lutheran Church, 413 N Main Street in Firth.  The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 till 7:30 p.m. at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak in Shelley and Thursday morning from 12:00 till 12:45 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Riverview Cemetery.