Clifton John Mattson was born June 24, 1929 in Clearwater County, MN, to Ivar and Agnes (Olson) Mattson. He attended elementary school in rural Shevlin and high school in Bagley, MN. Clif served in the military during the Korean War, where he became a tank sergeant.

After being discharged from the military, he entered the Minnesota State Patrol Training Academy. His first assignment was in 1954, at Grand Marais, MN. Clif married Esther Hanson on March 13, 1955, at Sion Lutheran Church, Lancaster, MN. He was transferred to Thief River Falls in the fall of 1955. Clif retired on September 15, 1989 after 35 years of service on the State Patrol. His last 17 years with the State Patrol were spent as the District Safety Education Officer. He then began driving a bus for School District #564 and continued to do so until shortly before his death.

He was a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, member of the VFW, life member of the American Legion, Retired MN State Patrol Troopers Association, Retired Peace Officers Association and MN School Employees Association. He enjoyed working on cars and doing carpentry work. He restored a 37 Ford Coupe and his retirement project was the building of a Mercedes Benz kit car.

Clifton is survived by his wife, Esther; his son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Michele of Blaine, MN; his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Tom Paltzer of Rochester, MN and granddaughters, Melissa Mattson and Chloe Paltzer and his sister, Leilla Mattson of Bemidji, MN and many cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.