Avis C. Mathison, age 90, formerly of Humboldt, passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Covington Heights. The family will be present to greet friends after 5:00 pm on Friday, October 3rd at Miller West Funeral Chapel, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 pm. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church, 511 S. Main St., Humboldt, SD. Memorials may be directed to American Cancer Society, Faith Lutheran Church in Humboldt, or Free Methodist Church, 222 S. Cliff Ave., Sioux Falls.

Avis Celia Kluck was born on September 18, 1918 in Hartford, SD to August and Zelma Kluck. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1936 and was united in marriage to Engvald Mathison in February of 1938.

Known for her faith, she was very active in the Free Methodist Church. She taught Sunday School for nearly 50 years and was also a lay minister. After the Free Methodist Church of Humboldt dissolved, Avis bought their building and later graciously began letting area Christian groups use it. Avis enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren. During the summer, she would hold Bible School for her grandkids and their friends.

Avis was known for her fried chicken. She collected bells, owls and Avon perfume bottles. Avis enjoyed feeding and watching birds and squirrels in her yard. She also enjoyed traveling. Her granddaughter, Sherri, saved up her money while she was still in high school, so that Avis and Engvald could travel to Norway with her. In the spring of 1985, a few months after her son, Arthur, passed away, she and her daughter-in-law, Sharon, traveled to Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

Grateful for having shared her life are her two sisters, Ada Lofswold, of Madison, SD and Nelvina Boyd, of New Underwood, SD; great-aunt, Myrtle Barrett, of Sioux Falls; daughters-in-law, Sharon Mathison, of Hartford, SD and Elaine Mathison; eight grandchildren, Sherri (Jeff) Johnson, of Phoenix, AZ, Laurie (Anil) Gadre, of San Francisco, CA, Robert (Miseung) Borgers, of Minneapolis, MN, Dawn Mathison, of Sioux Falls, Jeff (Dianne) Mathison, of Hopkins, MN, Steve (Caryl) Mathison, of Jefferson, SD, David Mathison and Richard Mathison; twelve great-grandchildren, Amber, Jordan and Alyssa Johnson, Sara Gadre, Liana Borgers, Ryan and Amanda Mathison, Ben Mathison, Jessica Mathison, and Richard John, Michelle and Danielle Mathison; and nieces and nephews. Avis was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Engvald; four children, Arthur, Connie, Dean and Allen; and two siblings, Loris and Alpha.