Karl Wesley Matson

Karl Wesley Matson, 86, Rapid City, passed away Friday, September 5, 2008, at Rapid City Regional Hospital, following a brief illness. He was born April 16, 1922 to Hazel (Scott) and Olaf Matson at the family homestead in the Badlands in Imlay, SD. He attended Rapid City Central High School. Karl served in the US Army Air Force from 1942-1945. He married Lela Shirley on July 31, 1946. Together, they had two daughters, Karla Jo and Shirley Lynn. Karl worked as a paper delivery boy in his youth and later at a motorcycle shop and in construction work. He was most known for his years of work as a body and fender man. He also enjoyed gunsmithing and gun stock checkering. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He was preceded in death by his two brother’s, Marion (Pat) Bartlett and Scott Leroy. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lela; two daughters, Karla Jo Ling, Rapid City and Shirley Kidner, Ridgecrest, CA; two sisters, Shirley Morrison, Chemainus, BC, Canada, and Bernice Dinnel, Northridge, CA; four grandchildren, Katie, Adam, Isabel and Matthew; four great-grandchildren, Stephany, Hailley, Kacey and Sylvie.