M. Mattie Ruth Lewis

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. Visitation Mon, Sep 20, 2021 at 9:00 am - 11:00 am Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Funeral Mon, Sep 20, 2021 at 11:00 am Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501