Roland Matthews, 74, of rural Leeds, ND, passed away November 27, 2015 at his home. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 11:00AM at the Leeds Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Pretzer officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 5:00-7:00PM with a 7:00PM Prayer Service at the Nelson Funeral Home in Leeds, ND. Visitation will continue for 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at the Harlow Cemetery in rural Harlow, ND. Military Honors will be provided by the Robert Tovsrud VFW Post #757 of Harlow, the Sidney Britsch American Legion Post #268 of York and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.

Roland Eugene Matthews was born on January 9, 1941 in Cando, ND to Cecil and Mary (Leppard) Matthews. He was reared mostly in the Cando area, baptized in the Assembly of God Church and attended schools in Louisiana, Illinois, New Mexico and graduated from Leeds High School in 1959. After graduating high school he married Clarice Friestad. In the fall of 1959 he joined the Air Force. He worked in avionics and autopilot systems. He retired from the Air Force as a M/Sgt in 1982. He along with his family spent most of his service in Upper Michigan and bases in Alaska. After retiring, he resettled in the Leeds area. He worked for the Postal Service for another 20 years, retiring in 2004. He was Postmaster in York, ND for most of those years. Roland was secretary for the Leeds Lion Club for several years, treasurer of the American Legion Post of York, ND and a member of the York Betterment. He liked reading, hunting, fishing, camping and playing cards. He had a love for animals and a talent for fixing anything with a motor.

Survivors are his wife of 56 years, Clarice; one brother, Robert (Marge) Matthews of Virginia; four sons: Randy, Ronald, and Darryl (Joyce) of Anchorage, AK and Donald (JoAnne) of Clearwater Beach, FL; a daughter Mary Matthews of Fargo, ND; 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Roland was preceded in death by his father, Lt. Colonel Cecil L. Matthews and mother, Mary Matthews; 3 sisters, Lovetta Pownell, Phyllis Fak, Helen Albers and brother Virgil.