Matthew C. Aeikens

Matthew C. Aeikens, age 95, of Willmar and formerly of Raymond, left this earth on November 30, 2013, at the Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church. Interment will be at Holland Township Cemetery in Prinsburg. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church and one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with the Tri-County Funeral Home of Prinsburg. Matthew Calvin Aeikens was born on March 30, 1918, to Fred and Ruth (Knight) Aeikens, on his parent's farm place, in Chippewa County, Minnesota. Matt was born in the chicken coop because the house was being remodeled at the time of his birth. He received his education in a one room county schoolhouse where his mother had met his dad as a teacher and a student. He served as a medic in the Army at Fort Snelling. On June 9, 1943, he was united in marriage to Johanna Marcus. They made their home on a farm near Montevideo until 1946, when they moved to the Raymond area and farmed several farms until they retired in 1984 and moved into the town of Raymond. They escaped the cold winters in Mesa, Arizona. The couple was blessed with 58 years of marriage. Matt was a member of the Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City, Bunde Christian Reformed Church and then the Raymond Christian Reformed Church where he was a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, elder, deacon and part of the choir. In addition to farming, he worked as an ACS agent, was on the township board for 12 years, the CRWRC for 6 years and a bank director. He was a handyman in Arizona. He enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling with family and friends. Matt left this earth on November 30, 2013, at Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar. He attained the age of 95 years and 8 months. Matt is survived by four daughters Ruth Ann (Allan) Boersma of Kerkhoven, Carol (Roy) Nachtigal of Eagan, Marlys Noble of Snellville, Georgia, and Norine (Ken) Schmitt of Waite Park, 12 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren, sister Lydia (Harry) Hoogeveen of Willmar, brother Richard (Verna) of Clara City, sister-in-laws Joan Aeikens, Joan Marcus, Grace Marcus and Sandra Marcus. Matt was preceded in death by his wife, Johanna on July 30, 2001, parents, Fred and Ruth, and brother, George.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Matthew C. Aeikens, please visit our floral store.