Matt Melvin Jagol, 84, passed away on January 4, 2014, at Riverview Health Care Center, Crookston, MN. Matt was born on March 22, 1929, at Killdeer, North Dakota to parents, Carl and Thelma (Kostenko) Jagol. He attended Knife Country School near Grassy Butte, North Dakota. In the early 1930's, he moved with his family to Wylie, Minnesota and later to Dorothy, Minnesota, where Matt attended Black River School. At the age of 15, he moved to Fertile with his family and they bought a farm Northwest of town. Matt worked for area farmers until he was inducted into the Marine Corps. He entered the Marine Corp on September 18, 1951, and spent a year in Korea until he separated on September 17, 1953, with a honorable discharge. He earned the National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal with 3 stars and the UN Service Medal. Matt was baptized as an adult into the Lutheran Faith. Following his military service, he worked as a Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes for a couple of years.

On December 14, 1957, Matt was united in marriage to Inez Gudmundson at McIntosh, Minnesota. To this marriage was blessed four sons—Douglas, Larry, Brad and Tim. In 1960, Matt began working for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He worked as a laborer, machine operator and a foreman until retiring from Burlington Northern in 1992. From 1989 to 2003, Matt also was a Hobbyist Bee Keeper. During their retirement years, Matt and Inez travel throughout the United States.

Being in the outdoors, fishing in a boat or sitting on the ice, hunting deer with family and friends or working around the farm, is what Matt enjoyed. He was a pleasure to visit with as he was full of stories and had a subtle sense of humor. As a common, hard working man, Matt had integrity, honor and wisdom that grew out of a lifetime of experience. His wife of 56 years, and family, will always treasure their memories of Matt in their hearts.

Matt is survived by his wife, Inez; four sons: Douglas (Laura), Larry (Stella), Brad, and Tim (Diane) all of Fertile, MN; ten grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; one brother, Donald, Crookston, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Alec, John, Steve, George, Peter, Anton, and sisters: Mary Lakedon, Nellie Biesiot, Rose Gaber, Amy Andersen, and an infant sister; brothers-in-law: John Lakedon, Ben Haugen, Harry Biesiot, Adam Gaber, Norman Anderson and sisters-in-law: Anna, Evelyn, Madeline and Betty.

Funeral services will be 2:00pm on Thursday, January 9, 2014, at Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Visitation will be from 4 PM-7 PM on Wednesday 8, 2014, at the Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Burial will be at the Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fertile, MN.

Erikson-Vik Funeral Home
Fertile, MN
www.eriksonvikfh.com