The Helena Independent Record,  August 24, 1976, reported:

Helena man killed in Okinawa accident

Edwin Dale Matson, 29, 1017 Missoula Ave., died early Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1976, following injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Okinawa, Japan.

Matson was born Dec. 17, 1948 in Billings to Mr. and Mrs. Melvin H. Matson Sr. He attended schools in Billings and Helena, enlisting in the U.S. Army in October of 1966 where he served in the United States, two tours in Vietnam, Germany, and currently in Okinawa, Japan.

While serving in Vietnam, he was awarded the Vietnamese Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with the palm, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. While serving in Japan he served with Company A., U.S. Army Garrison, Okinawa. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of East Helena.

On Jun 27, 1967, he married the former Katherine L. Welch in Helena.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother.

Survivors include the widow; a son, Melvin; a daughter, Lanae Marie, all at the family home in Helena; mother, Mrs. Ella Barrows, Billings; father, Melvin H. Matson Sr., Auburn, Wash.; and six brothers, Ernest D. Matson, Marshall R. Matson, Matthew R. Matson, all of Auburn, Wash., Gerald E. Matson, Donald L. Matson, both of Tacoma, Wash., and Melvin H. Matson, Billings.

Military services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 from the Hagler Chapel with burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

The pallbearers will be his six brothers, Ernest D. Matson, Marshall R. Matson, Matthew R. Matson, Gerald E. Matson, Donald L. Matson, and Melvin H. Matson