Clarence "Lee" Mattson

HAYDEN, ID - Clarence 'Lee' Mattson, 85, passed away Sunday, October 27th, 2019 at his place of residency in Hayden, Idaho.

Lee was born on August 14th, 1934 in Poplar, Idaho (Jefferson County) to Clarence Charles and Dorotha Harris Mattson. He graduated from Ririe High School in 1951 and attended Ricks College the following year.

Lee was raised in the upper Snake River valley where he often found himself as the man of the house. He was the eldest son of one brother and six sisters.

At the age of 16 he was employed with the Targhee National Forest as a camp tender to assist sheep herders in Teton basin. He had fond memories of this time in his life and the beauty that surrounded him.

On June 1, 1955 he married Beth Geisler in Idaho Falls and then moved to Montana. It was here where he continued his career with the US Forest Service for the next 35 years. He worked with the Bitterroot National Forest and was employed at the Sula Ranger station. Through his years of service he took on many roles and responsibilities from marking timber, working timber sales, working fire camps and engineering services developing and building logging roads. He worked on multiple forest fires in the Bitterroot Valley and surrounding states.

Lee retired from the Forest Service at the age of 55. He continued working in various types of employment including Blahnik Construction, Fortman and FedEx delivery and Whalers Cove in Angoon, Alaska. He also volunteerd with the Lost Trail Ski Patrol for 25 years.

Lee and Beth married 64 years raised two sons and three daughters in the Bitterroot Valley. He loved his family and enjoyed the outdoors making sure all five kids learned how to ski shortly after they could walk. He was also a exemplary model of a family provider.

Lee is survived by his wife Beth Mattson, his children Patty Mattson, Mary (Mike) Larson, Robert (Linda) Mattson, Julie (Brian Sanders) Mattson, Craig (Samara) Mattson; 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be  held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at the Daly-Leach Chapel.  Funeral services will follow at the Daly-Leach Chapel at 1:30 pm.  Burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery with a reception following the interment at the Hamilton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Pine St. in Hamilton.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.   

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