Claytus J. Mattern, age 77 of Rugby, North Dakota died Friday, October 23, 2020 at the Sanford Health Center in Fargo, North Dakota. He was born to Peter and Elizabeth (Jaeger) Mattern on November 17, 1942 at the Good Samarian Hospital in Rugby.
Claytus was raised in the rural farm home of his parents, north of Rugby and graduated from Rugby High School, the class of 1960 and furthered his agriculture education for a year in Fargo. On May 18, 1963, he was united in marriage to Ilene Black at St. Anselm’s Catholic Church in Fulda, North Dakota. The couple made their home on a farm in Meyer Township, Pierce County where they raised their family of four boys. As a young man, he would go south with his parents to do custom combining there, worked for Schultz & Linsay Construction, drove semi for his brother-in-law, Orris Halvorson of Pleasant Lake Grain. Later he worked for Bickler’s Jack & Jill where he learned the meat cutting trade which eventually led him to start his own business out at the farm. He and Ilene worked the butcher shop for the next 40 years, developing an area reputation for their sausage along with other products. If not enough to keep him out of trouble, he farmed and ranched from 1965 to 2017 when he semi-retired in words only!
In March of 2019, he was diagnosed with cancer, but it never stopped him from enjoying life and people. On July 4, 2020 one of his highlights was to drive his John Deere 4020 in the parade which, his son Lawrence and his sons restored for Claytus in 2019. He was continually active in the Rugby Community, a member of Little Flower Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and with the Cursillo programs in Harvey and Belcourt. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was well known for his out of proportion stories and never forgot a joke. At a gathering, if you did not know Claytus at first, you would know him before you left, this was his gift to all his many friends, he never forgot you. He was a great loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and especially enjoyed teasing Ilene.
Claytus is survived by his wife, Ilene of 56 years; four sons, Vince, Lawrence (Debbie) Steven (Vita), all of Rugby and LeRoy (Tamara) of Willow City; 10 grandchildren, Rachael, Ashley (Michael), Erica (Keith), Christy (Lee), Matthew, Carson, Katelyn, Tyler (Jacelyn), Jesse and Aleah; 7 great-grandchildren; a brother, Kenneth of Rugby; a sister, Diane Burkhart of New Kensington, PA; former daughter-in-law, Bonnie Mattern; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. He is preceded in death by sisters, Donna (Walt) Winson & Irene (Orris) Hlavorson; brother-in-law, Ray Burkhart; sister-in-law, Wanda Mattern; nephews, Wayne Mattern and Tim Thorp; and his parents.
For the safety of all, please be observant of the Covid-19 restrictions including social distancing, hand sanitizing, wearing a mask and staying at home if not feeling well for the visitation and funeral service. Seating and spacing will be monitored.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 5th at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday with a rosary & vigil prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. There will be reviewal on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. all in all in the Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby. There will be no reviewal in the church on Thursday.
Honorary Bearers: All grand & great-grandchildren and the coffee boys
Casket Bearers: Matthew Mattern, Carson Mattern, Tyler Mattern, Jesse Mattern, Michel Houim and Lee Zinck
To view the livestream, please click on the link to our YouTube page.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHS6R8jPKE-ZUrbZt8OVOcA?