"Agenda You have my deepest sympathy. She will alway be in your heart ! Just know I'm thinking of you! Linda George Polk City, IA"
In loving memory of
M. Mattie Ruth Lewis
October 8, 1938 - September 13, 2021
M. Mattie R. Lewis, 82, of Fort Dodge passed away Monday, September 13, 2021, at her home surrounded by family.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM on Monday, September 20th in the Chapel of the Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Entombment will follow in the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum, North Lawn Cemetery. A visitation will be on Monday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at the funeral home.
Mattie is survived by her children, Gwenda (Andrew Anderson) Naylor and Wilbert (Stephanie) Lewis both of Fort Dodge, Harold (Claudia) Lewis of Sergeant Bluffs, and Brenda Lewis of Des Moines; 8 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren; sister Jewel Turner of Des Moines, numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, T.B. and Mattie (Jones) Benson; son, Steven Earl Lewis; and siblings, Earstine Tyson, W.A. Benson, T.M. Benson, Willie Benson, John H. Benson, Dave Benson, Ernest Benson, and Amie Cole.
To T.B. Benson and Mattie Hannah (Jones) Benson of Meridian, Mississippi, the sun rose on their 6th child, M. Mattie Ruth Benson. Surrounded at home by her family her sunset, September 13, 2021.
Her childhood and education were in Lauderdale County, MS, later obtaining her G.E.D. in Fort Dodge, IA. While in Meridian, MS, she married Wilbert Lewis, in January 1956. She relocated to Fort Dodge in May of 1961 with her children establishing a new life. She worked various jobs including Mercy Hospital and Iowa Beef Processors, before beginning in 1975, at National Gold Bond where she remained until her retirement in 2003.
Mattie's spiritual journey began at Coppin Chapel A.M.E. Church, in Fort Dodge. Later she attended Second Baptist Church where she was introduced to Rev. Jack Thompkins. When he established Emmanuel Baptist Church, Fort Dodge, she became a member. In August of 1985, they were united in marriage until its dissolve.
Living her life she instilled in her children to work hard and love one another. Often, she repeated the quote from her grade school teacher, "Pretty is what pretty does", and from the Bible "You reap what you sow". She planted a seed of love in everyone she came into contact with through work, volunteering, and socializing. For many years she volunteered as a social security payee; at the Women's Resource Center, and as a hospice advocate at Careage, Friendship Haven, the Marian Home, and Fort Dodge Villa Care Center.
Mattie cherished time with her sisters, brothers, cousins, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and church families. She enjoyed traveling, Seek-A-Word puzzles, soap operas, coffee with her mall walking friends (where she never met a stranger), bible study, and listening to Rev. Marvin Jenkins weekly services of Union Missionary Baptist Church in Waterloo, IA.
During the last several years she and her daughter Gwenda were practically inseparable enjoying traveling, shopping, girl's night out and simply being together.
Memorials may be left to family discretion.
Tributes
"What a beautiful soul Mattie was. I was fortunate to have worked with her at Mercy Hospital when I was in high school. I can still hear her laugh and remember how often her children were in her stories. My sympathy to you all. Karen Cain Sullivan"
"Gwenda, Wilbert, Harold and Brenda, sending love and thoughts your way. Your mother was a such a lovely lady with a caring heart and magnificent smile. Sorry for your loss! Mark Gates"
"My condolences to the family"
"Gwenda, so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I know you two were very close5. My heartfelt sympathies to you and your family."
"Gwen, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I remember being in your home and what a sweet, kind, loving person she was. I think of you and her often. Doreen (Rosalez) Passow "
"I remember Mattie visiting Villa Care. She was such a kind and caring person."
"Our condolences to the family. I will always remember Mattie's kindness to my Mother when Mattie would stop at Villa Care to help others with bingo. She would always stop and speak directly to Mom and this act of kindness meant a lot to Mom. "