Wilho Richard Mattson

Wilho Richard Mattson, 85, of Cloquet died Friday, November 26, 2004 in Viewcrest Health Center in Duluth. He was born May 3, 1919 in Embarrass, Minnesota to John and Maria (Nummikoskie) Mattson. Wilho married Helen Pelto on March 3, 1941 in the Palo Congregational Church. He worked in Washington DC in the government printing office for two years. He served in the Air Force during WWII. After the war, he returned to Duluth where he worked for Springer Brothers Radio and TV as a repairman. He then went to work as a journeyman and later as foreman and superintendent of power house and taconite facilities for Zalk-Josephs Steel. Wilho had also worked as a sales manager for Ray Riihiluoma Construction in Cloquet for 10 years. Before his retirement in 1984, Wilho worked as general manager of Zenith Steel Sales and Recycling in Duluth. Wilho was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Duluth, Masonic Lodge Palestine #79 and Temple of the Shrine. He played accordion with the Rainbow Band of the Rainbow Center in Duluth. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, dancing and playing the accordion. Wilho was preceded in death by his wife Helen. He is survived by his daughter, Judith (Vern) Lund of Big Stone City, SD; sons, Gerald Mattson and William (JoAnn) Mattson both of Duluth, and Kevin Mattson of St. Paul; sisters, Edna Perkola of Cloquet, Amanda (Joe) Popovich of Aurora; brothers, Matt Mattson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, George (Carmen) Mattson of Alexandria, and Urho Mattson of Cloquet; seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren A memorial service was held Wednesday, December 1, 2004 in Trinity Lutheran Church, 1108 E. 8th St. in Duluth. Inurnment was in Sunrise Memorial Park in Hermantown with Military Honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society or St. Luke's Rheumatology Research. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet.