Wilford "Willie" Mattfield

Wilford (Willie) Mat1field, age 90, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, August 12.  He was born January 15, I927 in Bovey, Minnesota to Henry and Emma Mattfield.  He was the youngest of 8 children.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Betty and 7 children; Gregory, Gwendolyn, Barry, Kim, Rodney, Ronald, Tamara, and their spouses.  He had 22 grandchildren and 25 great- grandchildren. He also had numerous nieces and nephews and many friends who he considered to be family.  He was predeceased by son Kevin, grandson Darren, his parents and all of his brothers and sisters.

Willie was raised during the depression when times were hard, especially with such a large family.  They grew all their own food to survive and up until a few years ago.  Willie planted enough in his backyard to almost feed all of Corvallis.  Willie graduated from Greenway High School in 1945 and joined the Army during World War II.  After the war he returned home and married his life-long sweetheart Betty on March 3l, 1948.  While living in Minnesota they welcomed their first three children, Kevin, Gwendolyn and Gregory. Then they moved to Roundup, Montana where they spent 15 years and added five more children.  Hearing there were more opportunities for work, Willie headed up to Alaska and the North Slope in 1968 to work as a pipefitter and welder.   Betty loaded  up  their station wagon and moved their children up the Alaska Highway by herself to start a new life in Alaska with him.   They lived there 20 years and decided to retire in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana in 1988.  Willie and Betty built a beautiful home in Corvallis where they were surrounded by wonderful neighbors, enjoyed the wildlife, beautiful scenery, and the bounty from their many summer gardens.

Willie enjoyed traveling and loved nothing more than to hop in his car and drive anywhere.  He loved his family and after moving to Corvallis, he treasured having any of them come to visit.  Willie had strong faith in Jesus Christ and enjoyed sharing how a person could have a personal relationship with the Lord and enjoyed the abundant life that He came to give us.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday, August 17 at 4:00 p.m. at the Daly-Leach Memorial Chapel, l010 West Main Street in Hamilton.  Please join us for a casual gathering of family and friends.