Rodney Mathewson

Rod Mathewson, age 95, died August 1, 2020, at Sidney Regional Memorial Center, Sidney, NE.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., August 11, 2020, in the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Corey Jenkins officiating. Services will conclude at the Church. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel to sign Rod’s register book and leave condolences for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church or the donor’s choice. You may view Rod’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at .

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Rod’s care and funeral arrangements.

Rodney “Rod” Gordon Mathewson, the third child of W. D. and Kate (Herboldsheimer) Mathewson, was born February 24, 1925, at his aunt’s, Florence Nelson, home northeast of Potter, Nebraska. He attended Pleasant View School District 15, one half mile east of the family home northeast of Potter, through the eighth grade. After graduating from Potter High School in 1942, he helped his family with farming and ranching.

On November 2, 1947, Rod married Arlene Geu. They fixed up an old farm house to live in, one mile north of the family home which was now southeast of Potter. Three children were born to this union. They were Thetta, Loretta, and Randy.

Rod and Arlene worked side-by-side farming and ranching. In the fall of 1976, they moved to Sidney to make a place for their son, who was getting married. Rod continued to drive out to the ranch. He enjoyed what he was doing. He put in long days and often remarked about the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Rod continued to help until be retired in 2011, at the age of 85.

Rod belonged to the Lion’s Club while in the Potter area, and he and Arlene were members of the Potter Methodist Church. After moving to Sidney, they transferred their membership to the Sidney Methodist Church. He was an assistant 4-H club leader while his children were in 4-H. Rod served on the FHA board, the Cheyenne/Deuel County Extension Board, as an ASCS committeeman of the Brownson Precinct, and various church committees. Rod and Arlene were members of the Mount Vernon Community Center, the Prairie Schooners Square Dance Club, and charter members of the Security Bank Gold Club.

Rod and Arlene had been married 72 years. Their marriage was filled with love, respect, and a mutual belief in God.

Rod is preceded in death by his wife, Arlene, who died December 26, 2019; his parents; his sister, Carol Harris; his brother and his wife, Wendel and Shirley; his sister and her husband, Leota and Dale McKinney; his brother, Max: and brothers-in-law, Hank Geu , Earl Geu, and Harold Geu.

Rod’s survivors are his children, Thetta Rother, Loretta Flohr, and Randy (Gina) Mathewson; grandchildren, Justin (Kindra) Flohr, Kahla (Beau) Mathewson, Kristin Davis, Shelby Mathewson, and Ben (Carly) Mathewson; great-grandchildren, Lucas Mathewson, Leyla Bermudez, Isla Mathewson, and Henry Mathewson; sisters-in-law, Ann (Hank) Geu, Evelyn (Earl) Geu, Rosie (Harold) Geu, and Emma (Max) Mathewson. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, other family, and friends.