Matson was born February 25, 1929, in Birchwood Wisconsin, the son of Emil and Marie Matson. He graduated from Alma Center High School in 1947. Ernest then attended the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in education. He earned his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Matson and Faith Mabbott were married on August 21, 1954.
Matson served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 and continued his military career at sites throughout the United States as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserves until 1986.
He was ordained in June 1959 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Rockford, Illinois. Matson served as pastor at Bethel Covenant Church in Ellsworth, Wisconsin; Cedarloo Covenant Church in Waterloo, Iowa; and Redeemer Covenant Church in Downey, California. He also served several other Christian organizations.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a foster daughter, Barbara Wilson. A foster son, Wayne Field, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be observed from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Military honors conducted by American Legion Post No. 54 will take place immediately following the funeral service at Zion United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Brighton Cemetery in Unity.
Online condolences may be directed to Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home.
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As I wrote in the Companion last October, Ernie was my oldest friend in the Covenant Ministerium, a man whose insight I valued and whose correspondence and company I relished since he and Faith came from orientatation at NPTS to his first pastorate in Hastings, Nebraska, my home church, in 1957 (preceding Bethel), overlooked in the obituary. Our hearts are with Faith today. Ernie and Faith were at our wedding over fifty-two years ago, and their present to us, a beautiful wood carving of The Praying Hands, has hung on our wall ever since.
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04.06.12 at 4:39 am