Lloyd Franklin Matthiesen was born to Julius and Carol (Harding) Matthiesen on April 14, 1936, in Luverne, Minnesota. He began his life on the family farm west of Hardwick, Minnesota. Prior to Lloyd starting school, the family moved into Luverne and then to DeSmet, South Dakota, before returning to the Hardwick area. During his elementary years, the family moved onto a farm southeast of Luverne and then into Luverne in 1945. His high school years were spent assisting his dad who ran a small pinball route in Luverne. Lloyd received his education in Luverne, graduating from Luverne High School in 1954.
In June of that year, he went to California to attend Glendale College, graduating with an AA degree in 1956. Lloyd was employed as an electrical technician in California for the next 11 years, working for IBM, Collins Radio, Universal Research and Testing, and the Rocketdyne division of North American Aviation. Lloyd was a real “Rocket Scientist,” doing vibration tests for space rocket engines on the US Space Program (NASA) until 1969. He then moved to Worthington, Minnesota for six years and worked for the Martin Music Company servicing pinball machines and jukeboxes until 1976. He went back to California in February 1977 and worked for Family Amusement Company where Lloyd specialized in service and maintenance of pinball machines and jukeboxes, often performing service calls at homes of celebrities such as Nick Nolte and Joni Mitchell.
He retired in October of 1982 due to a hereditary eye disease. He spent his retirement years in Luverne and was fondly known as the guy on the bike because he rode his bicycle everywhere he needed to go around town, no matter what the weather conditions were.
In 2018 Lloyd became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne, where on Monday, December 25, 2023, he died at the age of 87 years.
He was a member of the Unitarian and Church of Light in Los Angeles, California. Lloyd was also a part of the Big Brother Association in his younger years. He enjoyed listening to shortwave radio, reading, movies, and had a passion for music. Lloyd was a cat lover and was not without a cat for 30 years, two special cats being Angel and Mittens.
Lloyd is survived by his sister, Phyllis Holden, of Sun Valley, California; special friends, Alan DeRoo and Bill Schoeneman, both of Luverne, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Carol Matthiesen; and a nephew, Mark Holden.
Burial was held at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. A private family service to honor Lloyd will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. To sign an online registry, visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.