Matthew Heaton

Matthew Dillon Heaton was born April 4, 1970 in Northfield, MN. His parents are Richard L. and Patricia A. (Monroe) Heaton. He moved around to many different places until he started elementary school at Bendix Elementary in Annandale, MN. When he was nine, he moved to St. Cloud, MN and continued his education until he graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School in 1988. He then attended Vermillion Community College in Ely, MN and studied business.

Matt enjoyed hunting, fishing, archery and his dogs.

He was married to Brenda Mackedanz in September of 1995. They had two children, Ashley Patricia and Luke Matthew. After his divorce he had a lifelong friendship with Sheila Althaus, who stood by him through many troubles.

Matt worked at various jobs in management. He helped create and open All Aboard buffet in Willmar, MN. Then he started his own restaurant called Ashley's Chicken named after his daughter. After that closed, he started a business cleaning restaurant grills and kitchens. He worked as a manager at Huisken Meat Company in Sauk Rapids, MN for seven years and also worked at Shearer's in Perham.

Matt had some struggles in life that kept him from reaching his potential. In spite of that, he had a very strong Christian faith and had a strong desire to go into some sort of ministry to tell people of Christ’s saving grace and love for them. He was an avid student of the Bible. Matt went on a mission trip to Honduras in 2017, did a Bible Study with the children, and built a building for the orphanage there along with outreach. He did Bible Studies with inmates at the Benton County Jail and spoke to the youth at churches to encourage them to make better choices then he had. He was the director of Celebrate Recovery in St. Cloud at Westwood Community Church. He was very generous and handed out Bibles to people in the community that needed one. Matt got his big hug from Jesus on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Matt was preceded in death by his grandparents Warren and Vera (Otterson) Heaton and Benedict and Clara (Seelye) Monroe and his youngest brother Lee Andrew Heaton.

He is survived by his parents Richard and Patricia; his daughter Ashley (Kyle) Froelich; son Luke Heaton (Paige Daniel); grandkids Watson Lee Froelich and Colton Daniel Heaton; brothers Randy Heaton, Tim (Kristine) Heaton, and Rodger Heaton; his nieces Katlyn, Jordan (Kaden), and Alexis; nephews Nathan (Katrina), Jacob, and Andrew; five aunts and four uncles; and many other friends and family.

Matt was very much loved and will be extremely missed.

Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with the Funeral Service at 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 15 at Crosspoint Alliance Church in Perham. Burial will be in Lake Eunice Evangelical Free Cemetery near Detroit Lakes, MN.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com