Joe Matthews

WEBSTER- Joe Matthews, 84 of Webster died on Friday, August 28, 2009 at Bethesda Home in Webster. His funeral will be at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster, Rev. Daniel Ostercamp officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Hillside Cemetery, Lily. Visitation will be at Fiksdal Funeral Service (fiksdalfuneral.com) on Monday 5-8 P.M. and prior to services on Tuesday at the church. Lloyd Joseph “Joe” Matthews was born on Friday, July 3, 1925 to Lloyd and Emma (Alby) Matthews at Lily, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Lily Lutheran Church. He attended and graduated from Lily High School in 1943. In January 1945 he entered the U.S. Army and served at the end of World War II in the Philippines. After his discharge in December 1946 he returned to the Lily area to the Matthews family homestead. On June 22, 1947 he was united in marriage to Sylvia Folven at Lily Lutheran Church in Lily, South Dakota. After their marriage the couple lived in Bradley for two years and then, after the death of his step-mother, they moved to the family farm where he farmed with his father until the mid 1950’s. In 1975 his son, Mike and wife, Kris joined in the farming operation. They operated a grain, hog and cattle farm. Joe and Sylvia, even though they moved to Webster, maintained an active role in the farm until the present time. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster. He served on various local, state and national boards including Day County Bank (CorTrust) and Lake Region Electric. He was a member of the American Legion and a long time member of National Farmer’s Union. Joe passed away on Friday, August 28, 2009 at Webster, South Dakota at the age of 84 years, 1 month and 25 days. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia of Webster; one son, Mike (Kris) Matthews of Lily, SD; a daughter, Mary Jo (Roger) Schaible of Aberdeen, SD; a sister, Merle Berkland of Hopkins, MN; five grandchildren, Travis (& fiancée, Michelle Philbrick) of Gillette, WY, Clinton (& Lacey) Matthews of Lily, SD, Lisa (Anthony) Bjerke of Bradley, SD, Jerod (& fiancée, Brandi Pierret) of Garretson, SD and Mandi Schaible of Fargo, ND; a great granddaughter, Addison Matthews of Lily, SD; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Georgia, an infant son, three sisters, Doris Bang, Fern Glynn & Pearl James.