Leonard Ingvald Mattson

Leonard Ingvald Mattson passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at the SunBridge Care facility located in Moses Lake.

Leonard was born on July 12, 1920, in Hitterdal, Minn., and was one of 13 children on the family farm. In Leonard's early years he was a farmer and later made his way west, to Cut Bank, Mont., where he became a carpenter and was also employed by the Cut Bank School District.

It was in Cut Bank where Leonard met widowed Della Danbook and later married his wife of 44 years. Leonard was a unique, loving man; with his marriage to Della he also accepted the responsibility of raising her five children as his own and later having a son together (Lenny). This completed Leonard's family and together with Della, they raised their six children. In later years Leonard enjoyed traveling and visiting the children in various locations, often helping with home remodeling projects. Leonard and Della resided in Moses Lake over the last five years.

Leonard was a devoted family man and extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. It was not uncommon to see Leonard working from sunup to sundown to ensure the family had everything they needed. In addition to working all day, Leonard created one of the finer homes in Cut Bank by utilizing his skills as a carpenter and gardener and tireless work ethic in remodeling the family home. Leonard was a member of the Sons of Norway, Moose Lodge, and the Elks Lodge while in Cut Bank

Leonard is survived by his wife Della, Moses Lake; daughters Carol Danbrook, San Diego, Calif., Gloria (Dave ) Marod, Grand Haven, Mich., Janie Danbrook (Jay), Helena, Mont., Rene (Kent) Stephens, Moses Lake, and sons Lanny Danbrook, San Diego, Calif., and Lenny Mattson, Washington, D.C.; grandchildren Kayla, Kyle and Troy Stephens, Brooke Espinosa, Melissa Moses and Melanie Marod, and great-grandchildren Sophia Moses and Nolan Espinosa.

A family service was conducted on Nov. 17 at Kayser's Chapel of Memories, Moses Lake. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory.