Alli Mattson

Allie Graham Mattson passed away peacefully on April 29th in Vancouver, Washington at age 98. She was born to Finnish immigrant parents, Victor and Katri Salonen in South Bend, Washington on April 24th, 1927. After graduating high school in 11 years, she worked for Ma Bell in Portland for a year, then attended Northwest college in Seattle. After college, she traveled by train to Washington, DC., the city she had fallen in love with as an 11-year-old on her first trip to Finland. She worked for John L. Lewis, National President of the United Mineworkers of America, and also for the US Government Immigration and Naturalization service. Later, she bought her first car, learned to drive, and drove it with two friends back to the West Coast. She then took a job with the 403rd troop carrier wing at Portland Air Base. In Portland she met and married E. L. 'Larry' Graham and together they raised three children. She spent the last 20 years of her working life as treasurer/bookkeeper of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Portland. She enjoyed travel, camping, classical music, steam locomotives, and cats. She loved spending time with family and friends at her childhood home in Eklund Park in South Bend, Washington. She also enjoye entertaining and cooking for people, especially making Finnish pancakes and strawberry pies. After retiring, she spent 10 years as a host/trip escort (and occasional driver) for the Luepke (Marshall) center in Vancouver, taking many cruises and transiting the Panama canal three times. Her favorite cities to visit were Vancouver BC, Helsinki, and Barcelona.

In her later years, she married fellow Finnish Immigrant son Leonard Mattson, and they continued traveling until his death in 2008.

She was pre-deceased by her parents, her two siblings Aino and Arne, her son Leslie, and her grandson Colby. She is survived by her two daughters, Lauren (Ken), and Ellen (Dave), two surviving grandchildren, Katriina (Chris) and Brandon (Sherri), and five great grandchildren.

Allie was an active member of the Finnish Lodge in Hockinson, and Sons of Norway in Vancouver. She was a member of the Anew Church in Vancouver. At her request there will be only a simple graveside ceremony, but if desired, memorial donations may be made to Anew Church, the Sons of Norway Vancouver, or the Humane Society.