Erickson, Norman Hugo (1903-1955)

ERICKSON, JACOBSON, SWATTOSH, ANDERSON, GEIGER, MCLANNEL

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Boone News Republican
September 1955

Norman H. Erickson

Funeral services for Norman H. Erickson were held from the South Marion Church Saturday, September 3, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Otto Steele and the Rev. Maurice Grimm officiating and the Hanson Funeral Home in charge. A prayer service was held at the home in Stratford at 1:30 p.m.

Vocal duets were sung by Mrs. Matt Hotchkiss and Mrs. Art Larson, accompanied by Mrs. Vincel Crim. Flowers were in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Westrum and Mr. and Mrs. Harley Bell. Serving as pallbearers were Leonard Bergman, Roy Fisher, Dr. Harry Kunkel, Dr. M.E. Pomeroy, Stanley Quick and Harold Westrum. Burial was at the South Marion Cemetery.

Norman Hugo Erickson, son of Oscar and Clara [Jacobson] Erickson, was born June 14, 1903 south of Stanhope, and passed away August 31, 1955 at Stratford, at the age of 52 years, 2 months and 17 days.

He attended school near his home southwest of Stanhope, and was baptized in the South Marion Church where he attended. He was united in marriage to Bessie Swattosh of Boone on April 15, 1925. To this union were born two children, Darrell Merlin, who died at birth, and Gerald Norman.

He farmed previous to moving to Stanhope, and then came to Stratford in 1939 where he established his hatchery business. He took part in community and civic affairs. For two years he served on the local school board, and also on the county board for two years. He was a member of the Commercial Club, the Lion's Club, the Masons (Acorn Lodge 601) of which he was a past Master, the Royal Arch Masons of Iowa, and several organizations related to his business. For many years he played the trumpet in the East Marion Band. He was an entertainer for WHO for several years where he was known as "Norman the Birdman" and had a father and son act. He was always very willing and generous in providing entertainment for fairs, carnivals, local organizations and church groups and always showed a community-minded spirit.

He was preceded in death by his son, his father and mother, his stepmother, Charlotte, and a half-sister, Alice.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie; his son, Gerald, and daughter-in-law, Mary Ann who are stationed with the Air Force in Puerto Rico; his brothers, Floyd of Webster City and Carl of San Francisco and his sister, Hazel, Mrs. Carl Anderson of Ames; his half brothers and sisters: Elmer of Bode, Herbert of Boone, Virgil of Stanhope, George of Stratford, Edna (Mrs. Harold Geiger) of San Francisco, Roberta (Mrs. Lawrence McLannel) of Yakima, Wash., and a countless number of friends and business associates. He will be greatly missed by all who have known him.