Patricia Mattson

A Mass of Christian Burial for Patricia “Pat” Joyce Mattson, age 89, of Gregory, SD, was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 28, 2026, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Father Ron Garry as Celebrant. Altar Servers were Madisan Graber and Paisley Graber. Doug Stukel was lector. Music was provided by pianist Mary Beth Gergen Registration and flower attendants were Ashley Mattson, Noah Wiggins, and Emily Pogue. Gift Bearers were Bradley Mattson, Jenny Cords, and Josh Mattson. Jim Mattson, Tom Mattson, Greg Mattson, Dan Mattson, Dave Ivers, and Francis Schaffer were casket bearers. All of Pat’s grandchildren were honorary casket bearers.

Interment was at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Gregory, South Dakota. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Patricia Joyce Mattson was born April 14, 1936, to Frank and Margaret (Farmer) Stukel. She was the second oldest of ten kids and the oldest daughter. As the oldest daughter, Pat had many duties taking care of her siblings, cleaning, and cooking. Her youngest brother Frank thought that she was his mother for the first three years of his life, along with Linda and Sandy. She loved sledding, horseback riding, cards, and swinging on the giant strides. The fun and love with her siblings and their children continued on until the very end.

Pat met the love of her life, Royce Mattson, while living in Minneapolis. They were united in marriage on June 15, 1957, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD. They were blessed with seven children: Sue, Jim, Sherry, Joan, Tom, Greg, and Dan. The care of her siblings was good training for the care of her family, and never once did you hear her complain. However, once in a while, you did hear her say “Wait until your father gets home”. As a family, they enjoyed camping at Cedar Lake, water skiing at St. Olaf Lake, the outdoor movie theater, north shore trip to Canada, making chocolate popcorn for movie nights, and many, many games of Hand and Foot and Yahtzee.

Patricia graduated in 1953 from Gregory High School. Pat worked for Northwest Orient Airlines at the ticket counter, Armour as a key punch operator, and retired from Hormel as a data processor in 1998.

Royce and Pat retired to Gregory, SD. After Royce passed in 2001, Pat remained active with the Red Hat Society, Catholic Daughters, City of Gregory Library Board, and worked alongside her sisters and brothers at Stukel’s Birds & Bucks. She enjoyed time at the Senior Center playing cards. Pat was devoted to her family and, likewise, her family was devoted to her. She was fondly called GGM by her grandkids. She traveled frequently around the world with her children, grandchildren, and siblings.

She was a strong, positive woman who survived several bouts with cancer, a fractured neck, and a broken arm. She always had a positive outlook and lived a long life surrounded by those who loved her.

Pat died unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in Harrisburg, PA, after visiting her daughter Sherry who was terminally ill. This was two days after her daughter Sherry passed away of CJD disease.

Pat is survived by her children: Sue (Francis) Schaffer, Jim (Kris) Mattson, Joan (Dave) Ivers, Tom (Cindy) Mattson, Greg (Andrea) Mattson, Dan (Teresa) Mattson; son-in-law Wes Wiggins; many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters: Kay Shouse, Linda (George) Boles, Sandy (Michael) Murrell; brothers: Don (Joyce) Stukel, Frank (Carol) Stukel; sisters-in-law Melba Stukel and Karen Stukel-Karl; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Royce; daughter Sherry Wiggins; grandson Jonathan Mattson; great-granddaughters: Madylin Cords and Katarina Wiggins; parents Frank and Margaret Stukel; sisters: Corine Thomas and Jean Drummond; brothers: Cal Stukel and Ray Stukel; brothers-in-law: Larry Thomas, Ron Drummond, and Tom Shouse; and many members of the Mattson family.