MISSION WOODS, KAS. — David Falk Mattson, vice-chairman of Cereal Food Processors, Inc. and a widely recognized expert on flour milling operations, died Dec. 1 at his home in Leawood, Kas. He was 89 and had been active in advising C.F.P. management until his sudden death.

A native of Minnesota, Mr. Mattson held an engineering degree from the University of Minnesota. He served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II.

Mr. Mattson began his career in milling in 1946, joining Atkinson Milling Co. in Minneapolis as a plant engineer. While with Atkinson, he guided that company to pioneer in the bulk delivery of flour, becoming plant manager in 1952. When Atkinson Milling was acquired by ADM Milling Co. in 1962, he joined ADM, and advanced to production manager of milling operations in 1966.

When Fred L. Merrill, who had been head of ADM Milling, left that position and in 1972 founded Cereal Food Processors, he invited Mr. Mattson to join him, as the third member of the staff of the new company. This was before C.F.P., which is now a company with more than 100,000 cwts of daily milling capacity, had acquired its first flour mill. Starting as operations manager of C.F.P., he became executive vice-president in 1984 and vice-chairman of the board in 1989.

Mr. Mattson’s commitment to the advancement of flour milling was reflected in his longtime membership and participation in meetings of the International Association of Operative Millers. His focus on flour milling efficiency combined with the highest levels of quality was legendary. In 1989 Mr. Mattson received an I.A.O.M. award for his long service on the association’s Technical Committee. He was honorary chairman of the 2007 I.A.O.M. Conference in Overland Park, Kas., a suburb of Kansas City.

He was an avid skier, ice skater, tennis player and world traveler.

Surviving are his wife, Harriett Bymark Mattson; two daughters, Barbara Renneke of Minneapolis, and Gretchen Lally of Olsburg, Kas.; three grandsons; two granddaughters; and a sister, Jane Johnson.

Memorial services will be held Dec. 4 at Leawood Presbyterian Church. The family prefers memorials to the church or to the Harvesters Community Food Network.