Cover photo for Jean E. Matheson's Obituary
Jean E. Matheson Profile Photo
1927 Jean 2023

Jean E. Matheson

December 7, 1927 — May 23, 2023

Jean Eileen Matheson, 95, of Minneapolis passed away peacefully May 23rd, 2023, surrounded by family members at the Viking Manor nursing home in Ulen, Minnesota. 

Jean was born December 7th, 1927, on the family farm west of Felton, Minnesota in Clay County to Ansgar and Hazel Borgen. She was the seventh of nine children. She attended country grade schools in both Clay and Norman counties, graduating from Fargo High School in 1945. 

Jean married Willard (Bill) Matheson in 1949 in Watertown, South Dakota. They made their first home in Seattle, Washington. In 1952 they moved to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota where they lived for several years and where their two sons, Terry & Todd were born. In Detroit lakes they owned and operated Matheson’s Music and formed the Bill Matheson Orchestra performing all around the area where Jean sang and played piano & accordion. 

In 1968 she began a career as a piano bar player playing throughout the upper midwest. In 1974 she retired from being on the road and settled in Minneapolis where she worked many years as a manager in the restaurant business. She then found her calling as a CNA in hospice. 

In 1993 Jean was diagnosed with Merkel Cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer. She is now in the record books as a long term Merkel Cell cancer survivor. 

Jean has been a long time member of Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis where she was a Stephen’s Minister and a lead usher. 

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; six siblings; Vernon, Arnold, Allyce, Helen, Lois, Robert, and Carol. She is survived by her sister Donna; sons Terry (Monica) and Todd (Joanne) Matheson; 5 grandkids, 10 great grandkids and a host of extended family and friends. 

Jean enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, horseback riding, sitting on the deck of her apartment in Minneapolis watching the comings and goings of city life, but especially she enjoyed spending time with her granddaughters, Samantha & Angela. 

A celebration of life memorial will be held Friday, July 21st at 11:00 AM with a visitation one hour before the service at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead, Minnesota. 

Memorials may be made to Central Lutheran Church or a charity of one’s choice. Thank you to Viking Manor Nursing Home & Hospice for their wonderful care.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean E. Matheson, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, July 21, 2023

10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)

Wright Funeral Home and Cremation Service-Moorhead

605 2nd Ave S, Moorhead, MN 56560

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Celebration of Life

Friday, July 21, 2023

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Wright Funeral Home and Cremation Service-Moorhead

605 2nd Ave S, Moorhead, MN 56560

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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