Mass of Christian Burial for Gladys Marie Mattern, 84, of Lemmon, formerly of McIntosh, SD will be Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon. Fr. Tony Grossenburg will officiate. Following a time of fellowship and lunch at the church, burial will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in McIntosh, SD. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon. A Rosary/Wake service will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Gladys Marie Lenerville was born on November 19, 1927 in Hettinger, ND to Edward Lowell and Theresa Marie (Hitchcox) Lenerville. She grew up in the Prairie City and Bison, SD areas until moving to McIntosh in 1944 where she graduated from McIntosh High School in 1946. Gladys taught school for one year before being united in marriage to Peter John Mattern on July 14, 1947. To this union eight children were born. Gladys owned and operated Happy's Café in McIntosh before she helped Pete at their Mobil gas station in McIntosh, Pete's Hiway Service.

Gladys raised her family at home and in 1978 her husband Pete passed away. It was at this time she went to work at the Corson County Courthouse as the Deputy Treasurer. Gladys was a wonderful cook and became famous for her chocolate chip cookies and sour cream chocolate cake with sour cream raisin frosting. Her doors were always open and she was always busy in the kitchen. It was seldom that just the Mattern family sat down for one of her delicious meals as her children's friends were usually there. Many spent the night at the Mattern home during school years.

Gladys was very active in the community serving in various offices of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #139, St. Bonaventure's Altar Society, Community Club, helping her children with their Boy Scout activities, 4-H and school functions. She was instrumental in organizing the American Legion Auxiliary's annual Tiger Roundup McIntosh High School Class Reunion.

Gladys retired from Treasurer's office and moved to Lemmon, SD in 1992 to be closer to where some of her family lived and became a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon as well as the VFW Auxiliary in Lemmon. She was known as Grandma Gladys, Grandma Mobil and Cookie Grandma and many called her Ma through the years.

Gladys and Peter gave their children the love of fishing which was learned on many of the McIntosh area stock dams. This activity continues to be passed down by the next generation to the grandchildren.

Gladys fought colon cancer for one year and passed away at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon on December 12, 2011. She will be missed by all who were blessed by knowing her.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her eight children, Caroline (Terry) Dauwen, Paulette (Butch) Fanning, John Mattern, Joel Mattern, Betty (Derry) Meyer, Marla (John) Hausauer, Jef Mattern and Jerry Mattern; 19 grandchildren, Karren (Brian) Thompson, Robyn (John) Bertolotto, Bobbie (Mike) Dover, Jason (Andrea) Fanning, Josh (Tara) Fanning, John (Maxine) Mattern, Kristie (David) Witherspoon, Mandy Mattern, Ryder (Brittany) McGregor, Jordan Mattern, Breck Mattern, Cody (Stacey) Meyer, Laramie Meyer, Shelby Meyer, Melissa (Boyce) Reede, John Peter Hausauer, Dusty Mattern and Allyx Mattern, 30 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren, her siblings, Doyle (Tottie) Lenerville, Albert (Alvina) Lenerville and Bertha Lensing; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lena Glines, Paul (Loretta) Mattern, Bernard Mattern, Ann Greene, Elvina Sexton, Eugene (Eilene) Mattern and Barbara (Ted) Walker and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Theresa Lenerville, husband, Peter John Mattern, grandson, Dillon James Meyer, great grandson, Justin Allen Fischer, son-in-law, Jack F. Weekes, brothers, Roy Lenerville and Willis Lenerville, Brothers and Sisters-in-law, Nancy and Frank Mattern, Virginia Mattern, Charlie Glines, Bike Sexton, Roy Green, Betty Lou Lenerville and Leon Lensing.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established by her family.

Grandma Gladys' Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter flavored Crisco

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/4 cup flour

2 cup chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts (opt)

Cream Crisco, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Add salt and soda. Mix. Stir in flour. Stir in chips and nuts. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.