Beatrice Mattern

Rugby

Beatrice “Beaty” Bertha Mattern, 82, of Rugby, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, February 23rd, 2026.

Beaty was born on June 24th, 1943, to Joseph and Eblena (Koble) Reiter in Rugby, North Dakota. She was raised in the Orrin/Balta area and attended Rugby High School for two years before eventually graduating from Balta High School.

One evening at an outdoor theater, a mutual friend introduced her to who would become the love of her life, Joseph Mattern. Joe often said of the night they met that “he picked the right one.” On August 20th, 1962, Beaty and Joe were united in marriage at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Balta.

They began their married life in Rugby, where Beaty worked at Hanbury’s Cafe. In 1967, Joe’s work took them to Culbertson, Montana, where they began raising their family. In 1972, they moved to Surrey, and Beaty devoted herself fully to being a wife and mother to their five children. Praying the rosary with her family was an essential part of her mothering and provided them all with a strong foundation for their Catholic faith. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her children on her Singer sewing machine, cooking and baking for her family, and took great pride in tending to her garden.

In 1988, the family moved to Warroad, Minnesota, where Beaty began working at Marvin Windows and Doors. She dedicated 25 years to her career there before retiring. In 2012, she and Joe returned to Rugby to enjoy their retirement years together.

Being a mom and a grandma were Beaty’s greatest joys. She loved in a gentle, steady way that made each member of her family feel uniquely special. Her brownies and banana bread were family favorites, always requested at family gatherings. She made sure everyone was fed, cared for, and comfortable, consistently putting others before herself.

As her health declined, Joe and her family lovingly cared for her, ensuring she made it to her appointments and remained closely connected to those she loved. She especially enjoyed her iPad, which became her window into her grandchildren’s lives. Whether watching a game somewhere across North Dakota and Minnesota or receiving a FaceTime call from Germany, she celebrated each of their accomplishments. A devoted fan, she rarely missed a competition and always followed up with a message telling them how proud she was.

Beaty and Joe were blessed with 63 years of marriage, five children, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She loved each of them deeply and was incredibly proud of them. Her love, kindness, and legacy will live on through her family.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Joe; her children, Kim (Les) Tofstad, Rory (Jolene) Mattern, Shelly (TJ) Koisti, Darin (Gerene) Mattern, and Troy (Jamie) Mattern; her grandchildren, Ashley (Vichita) Ounchith, Alicia (Dustin) Kaasa, Derek (Laura) Mattern, Jordan Mattern, Brayden Koisti, Treyton (Julia) Mattern, Halle Mattern, Bryer Mattern, Lydia Mattern, Cooper Mattern, Jax Mattern, and Ily Mattern; her great-grandchildren, TreAllan and AviAnna Ounchith, Maci Kaasa, and Giada and Livia Mattern; her brothers, Albert (Clara) Reiter and Allen (Carol) Reiter; her sister-in-law, Joni (Doug) Harmel; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Albert Leier; her parents, Joseph and Eblena Reiter; and her in-laws, Joe S. and Myrtle Mattern.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with lunch and fellowship to follow in the church basement. Burial will take place in the spring in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with rosary, vigil prayer service and sharing of memories beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with no viewing at the church.

Published by The Minot Daily News, February 27, 2026.