Allen Dale Matson 7/5/1929 - 1/4/2023

Allen was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on July 5, 1929 to Lester and Mabel Matson. &emsp;&emsp;After the "Crash" of 1929 the family moved to Los Angeles, California. Allen had three younger sisters: Mary Ann Lippiatt Fulmer, (now deceased), Dorothy Westrup and Renee' Consentino.&emsp;&emsp;Allen was in the navy for four years during the Korean War. He was assigned duty on the U.S.S. Boxer and saw action in Japan.&emsp;&emsp;After the war, Allen went to school at Pasadena (Nazarene) College. A favorite professor arranged for him to work a summer with another student, Barbara Jean Allen. The professor was a good matchmaker and Allen and Barbara were married a year and four months after the introduction. They celebrated their 66th anniversary this past October 12…. a Norwegian who ate "lutefisk" and "lefse" married to a Texas girl who ate "cornbread" and "black eyed peas"!&emsp;&emsp;After getting a Master's Degree in Social Welfare from U.S.C., Allen worked in Child Welfare in El Dorado County, Los Angeles County and for 27 years in Placer County. He started the "Big Brothers" program in Placer County. He had 5 "Little Brothers" and a foster child. He also led a Cub Scout Troup. Allen was very active in the Church of the Nazarene in Auburn (now Parkside Church). He taught Junior High "Sunday School" for 25 years. Allen and Barbara have 3 children: Brent Matson, Lori Matson, and Judy Totey (Mark Totey) and three grandchildren: Austin Totey, Savannah Longfellow, (Sean Longfellow) and Logan Totey. Allen was an active Grandpa with his 3 Grandchildren and they will remember the elaborate playground and tree fort he built in their front yard along with memories of many hours spent together building with Lego!&emsp;&emsp;Barbara thinks of Allen as a quiet, polite, thoughtful, Christian husband, father, and grandfather who loved the Lord and the people around him. There will be no church services due to COVID but the family would welcome notes with a memory about Allen.