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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Dawn Mathias is hoping to not be mistaken for the pastor, the pastor’s wife or the secretary at the funeral home. Her name has been added to Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home, making it officially Lerud Schuldt Mathias Funeral Home. With the retirement of Al Schuldt, she became a partner with Mike Lerud at the funeral home located on North Central Avenue in Valley City, ND, where the tradition of a family owned funeral home will continue.

Dawn Mathias is a native of Cooperstown, ND, where she is still known as D.J. Zimprich, even though she has been married to Ryan Mathias for over 16 years, has been a licensed funeral director since December of 1999. Her apprenticeship was served under Rodger Haugen at Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake, ND. In January of 2000, she began her licensed career at Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, in Valley City, where she worked for 15 years. In June of 2015, she took a position with Ingstad Family Media as a sales consultant.

One day in the spring of 2016, a conversation began about her joining the team at Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home. Al would be retiring at the end of 2016 and Dawn would buy his shares in the company. Although, Dawn was enjoying having her nights and weekends off, her heart was still in funeral service. So, in October of 2016, Dawn began working with Mike and Al. Papers were drawn up and try as she might, Dawn couldn’t work into the agreement that Al would still take call on nights, weekends and holidays.  Although he officially retired as of January 1, Al will still be a familiar face, helping with funerals and other aspects at the funeral home.

Dawn grew up in Cooperstown, ND and is the daughter of Don and Eunice Zimprich. She attended both NDSU and Mayville State University before going to mortuary school at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. She and Ryan have three children, Allysen, Hadlee and Trever. The Mathias’ are involved in many things in the Valley City area.  Dawn is active in the local Rotary club, serves as secretary of the St. Catherine Cemetery Committee, is president of the Mercy Hospital Foundation Board, and is a member of the Barnes County United Way, Sheyenne Valley Imagination Library committee, Eagle’s Auxiliary and the VCHS Booster Board. 

Dawn and Ryan own Valley City’s original sports bar, the NuBar, and she is president of the local dart league. Ryan is also a real estate agent with Reign Realty and serves on the Valley City School Board. The kids are active in school and summer rec activities. The whole family enjoys hunting and camping.