Matthew Lynn Vannatta, known for his love of being outdoors, sharp wit, and hard-working spirit, passed away on November 25, 2024, at the age of 58 from natural causes at his home west of Williston, ND. He went out as he wanted– without fuss or being a burden on anyone.

Matt was born on January 20, 1966, to Marlyn and Karen (Rossland) Vannatta, in Tioga, ND, into a family that valued the land, hard work, and a good sense of humor.

He moved with his family to Parshall, ND, at the age of 2. Even at that young age, Matt was developing a hard-charging personality. His parents owned Parshall Wesco Propane, and he often would be helping his dad deliver propane or work on heating systems.

When Matt was 9, the family moved to Bainville, MT, where his family farmed and ranched 1,700+ acres. Growing up, Matt was a true son of the Montana plains. He loved the outdoors, driving the heavy equipment, working the cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens. His CB handle was “Choreboy,” and his parents depended on him to keep the animals fed.

Matt graduated from Bainville High School in 1984. He was active in basketball, the school play, FFA, and random mischief. He received several reprimands for burping in the halls of BHS, and, oh, how he could make that burp echo. It was more akin to a lion’s roar!

Matt attended the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, where he earned an associate’s degree in electronics. It didn’t take long for him to realize that a desk job wasn’t in his future. He needed fresh air, hands-on work, and the satisfaction of getting his hands dirty.

In 1987, he began his 37-year career at Franz Construction, where he worked with heavy equipment, building everything from roads to oil sites. Whether operating bulldozers or scrapers, Matt took great pride in his work, knowing that his craftsmanship would stand the test of time. His colleagues admired his ability to think on his feet, solve problems on the spot, and keep a job moving forward no matter the obstacle.

Matt was also an inventor in his own right. When faced with a problem on the job site, he often engineered creative solutions, building tools, or modifying machines to get the job done. His knack for finding practical solutions to complex problems became one of his trademarks. Matt even built a ½ mile zipline for his nephews and nieces in his own pasture.

In the summer of 1990, Matt’s life took a turn when he attended a celebratory party for an annual trail ride over Labor Day weekend. That night, as the music played and the laughter echoed, a 5’3” long-haired, brown-eyed girl caught his eye. Matt, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, asked her to dance. With a little liquid courage, he told her, “I’m going to marry you someday.” True to his word, after a short but whirlwind courtship, Matt married Carla Jane Huck on June 1, 1991.

Matt faced challenges in life with the same head-strong way he approached everything. In July of 1996, he was in a car accident that broke his back in two places. Those injuries usually end in paralysis, but Matt would not allow that to be his fate. Then in March of 2011, Matt and Carla lost their home and belongings to a house fire. Since he wasn’t one to sit back and say “woe is me,” within days he was digging out the rubble and preparing the site for a new home to be built and configuring a way to get water to his cows.

Matt spent most of his life being a workaholic, but the travel bug finally caught up to him, and he was always planning his next adventure. He considered himself semi-retired and had a goal of taking a trip at least once a month. Matt also enjoyed preparing the soil for planting and digging the potatoes and carrots in Carla’s garden. He spent most of his free time working in the shop repairing equipment, building what he needed to keep everything in working order, or helping friends with their repairs.

Matt was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Judson Township Supervisor, and Vice-Chair of C.A.R.E.S.

Known for his honesty and straightforward nature, Matt didn’t mince words—but always with a sense of humor that kept those around him laughing. He loved to tease his friends and family, and his jokes were a constant source of amusement. Whether he was playfully ribbing a coworker or sharing a light-hearted story, his infectious laughter made every day a little brighter. His teasing was never mean-spirited; it was all in good fun; and if you were lucky enough to be on the receiving end, you knew it was just Matt's way of showing you he cared. Numerous people would even tell you Matt was their best friend.

Matthew is survived by his wife, Carla; his mother, Karen; his brothers: Shane Vannatta (Jon Freeland), JC Vannatta (Travis Phillips), and Jeremy Vannatta; half-sisters: Becky (Tom) Selander and Rachel Vannatta; brothers- and sisters-in-law: Douglas (Twila) Huck, Marcy Huck, Robert (Karen) Huck, Beth Huck, David Huck, Sheila (Chris) Walls, and Jason (Beret) Huck; nephews and nieces: Tyler, Caden, Luke, Gavin, Mariah (Lucas), Nyland, Addison (Alexis), Amanda, Angela, Grayson, Tyias (Chelsey), Lane (Courtney), Chloe, Sam, Aidon, Sarah, Kieran and Zacharias; godchildren: Allen, Jackie, Chance, Marisa, Katia, and Kennedy; great nephews and nieces: Taylor, Rylei, Jordan, Vyolette, Brady, Trey, Saylor, Kadyn, and Briar; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and colleagues who were touched by his kindness, humor, and honest nature.

He is preceded in death by his father Marlyn, who meant the world to him; his mother-in-law Mary Jane Huck; and numerous grandparents, uncles and aunts.

Matt had a large personality and ran at life. The following quote captures Matt’s approach: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’” Indeed, Matt had a wondrous ride!

Memorial Contribution