David Matson, age 64, of Gary, MN, died Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Sanford Medical Center Palliative Care in Fargo, ND.

David Gifford Matson, the son of Gifford and Cora (Gorder) Matson, was born on November 18, 1954, in Ada, MN.  Along with his two brothers, Donald and Allan, David was raised on the family farm east of Gary.

David's life was farming. In 1972, David graduated from Gary High School and furthered his education at the University of MN, Crookston, where he earned a degree in Agriculture.  While in school, he continued to work on the family farm, and when his father retired, he and his brother, Donald, took over.

In the early years, the family raised Holstein cows and small grains. But in 2008, after his brother, Donald, passed away, David focused on soybeans and corn.

Beyond farming, he built wonderful relationships with neighbors and his hired hands, who helped make each season a successful harvest.  David had an engineer's mind and could figure out how to make almost anything work. He inherently lived by the motto: "When in doubt, figure it out." He took on challenges and built the skills necessary to complete any job.

David spent hours watching the crops, tinkering in the shed, and listening to the grain reports.  He was a reserved and private person, but those who knew him best also saw his carefree, adventurous, and free-spirited side.  David was independent and loved to roam.  He often took spontaneous trips locally with his friends, or sometimes he'd fly across the United States by himself.  David was always up for an escapade and was always on the lookout for new machinery.  David enjoyed having breakfast with his buddies. But he was an early riser — to join him, you must be up bright and early.  He liked to chat about commodity markets over a cup of coffee and enjoyed an evening out with friends.

The Ness Lutheran Church, where David was baptized and confirmed, was an integral part of his life.  He was often a quiet presence in the pew on Sunday and unbeknownst to many, David selflessly mowed the grass and moved snow for the church and cemetery for many years.  David was an avid Minnesota Sports fan and was adamant about keeping himself physically fit through healthy eating and exercise.  His cancer diagnosis was devastating, but David maintained Hope throughout it all.  He had faced many toils and much tragedy in life, but his positive attitude was a gift to us all.

David was preceded in death by his parents and both of his brothers, Donald and Allan.

He is survived by his niece, Jessica Jacobson of Moorhead, MN; two nephews, Andrew (April) of Hawley, MN, and Nathan of Minneapolis, MN; great nieces and nephew: Ariel, Rickey, Allison, Hope, and Grace; his sister-in-law, Sue (Ron) Thorsrud of Twin Valley; several aunts, uncles and cousins; as well as many dear friends.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at Ness Lutheran Church, rural Gary. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:30 pm, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Twin Valley. Burial will take place at Ness Lutheran Cemetery.