Mary Jo Mathison

Rock Valley, IA: Mary Jo Mathison, 76, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Monday, May 6, 2024, at Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull, Iowa. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 14, at 2:00 PM at First Community Church of Hope in Doon, Iowa with Pastor Jim Sweers officiating. Burial will be held at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Monday, May 13, from 5:30-7:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley.

   Mary Jo Mathison, daughter of Lloyd and Lorena (Menning) Brown, was born March 13, 1948, at Canton, South Dakota. She grew up on a farm near Inwood, Iowa. Mary attended a one room country school until it closed. She then attended West Lyon School until 1964 when they moved from Inwood to Rock Valley. Mary was a graduate of Rock Valley High School in Rock Valley, Iowa and later attended Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City, Iowa where she graduated as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). She worked for two years at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

   Mary was united in marriage with Ben Mathison on June 8, 1972, at the Pioneer United Methodist Church in Rock Valley. Mary became a “military wife” as she and Ben lived in many different locations throughout his years of service. They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oak Harbor, Washington, Sioux City, Iowa, Monterey, California, Ft. Hood, Texas, Frankfurt, Germany, Ft. Meade, Maryland, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and finally they settled in Rock Valley, Iowa in 1992.

   Mary enjoyed quilting, crocheting, sewing, puzzles, and playing games. She spent many years as the Sunday School superintendent at the Methodist Church in Rock Valley. More recently, Mary became a member of the First Community Church of Hope in Doon, Iowa.

   Mary is survived by her husband of 51 years, Ben; 2 daughters, Heather (John) Walbran of Liberty, Missouri and Michelle Mathison of Rock Valley; 2 grandsons, Cameron and Calvin Walbran; brother, Wayne (Rogene) Brown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and 2 sisters, Sylvia (Kent) Pruismann of Rock Valley and Jan (Ray) Witte of Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Lorena Brown; daughter, Sylvia Mathison; and brother, Don Brown.