Robert “Swede” William Erickson 1917 - 2014
ERICKSON AITKEN, LIVENGOOD
Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/13/2014 at 10:50:06
Mapleton Press
1 May 2014Robert “Swede” Erickson, 97, of Castana died Friday, April 25, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting.
Robert William Erickson was born Jan. 18, 1917, at Castana, to Albert and Edna (Livengood) Erickson. He attended elementary school in Castana and moved to Mapleton with his family where he graduated in 1936.
He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps for three years at Sidney and Moorhead. During this time he played football on the company team. He then moved to Sioux City in 1939 where he was employed as a turret lathe operator for Albertson’s. He played football for the Sioux City Olympics for two years.
Robert and Wilda Elizabeth Aitken were married Nov. 21, 1942, at Dakota City, Neb. To this union four children were born, Carma Lee, Barry William, Sheryl Linn, and Bernie Aitken. In 1943 they purchased their forty acre farm near Castana. Later that year Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the U.S.S. Kline until 1945 when he was honorably discharged. At that time he and Wilda purchased one hundred and sixty more acres to create the family farm in Kennebec Township of Monona County. While farming, Robert also worked as a caterpillar operator for Anderson and Treiber Construction Companies.
Robert was a member of the Castana Community Church and served on the church board. He was a member of Grimsley-Thayer American Legion Post #502 of Castana for over 50 years. He served on the Castana Community School Board, Monona County Fair Board, and served Kennebec Township as trustee for many years. He was a 4-H Club Leader for 50 years in Monona County. He will be remembered as a good neighbor to all those in the Arcola neighborhood. He had been a resident of Pleasant View Care Center since October 2012. Besides loving his farm work, he also enjoyed gardening and woodworking. His grandchildren will remember many fun tractor rides on Grandpa’s Ford. In later years, he enjoyed watching the farm animals, especially his beloved dog, Zip, as well as the birds at his feeders.
Survivors include two sons, Barry (Marjorie) Erickson and Bernie Erickson both of Castana; one daughter, Sheryl (Mike) Patten of Spencer; one son-in-law, Virgil Johnson of Denison; eight grandchildren, Chad (Kristi) Johnson of Crescent, Brent (Andrea) Johnson of Denison, Darin Johnson of Denison, Eric Johnson of Fort Dodge, Ericka Erickson of Sioux Falls, S.D., Aaron Erickson of Castana, Brandon (Corrie) Patten of Ames, and Devin Patten of Castana; five great-grandchildren, Colton Johnson, Wyatt Johnson, Lynnae Johnson, all of Denison, Adeline Patten, Charles Patten, and Jackson Patten all of Ames; three sisters, Ruth Mesenbrink of Sioux City, Mary LeFebvre, and Dorothy LeFebvre both of Mapleton; as well as many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Mary Lou Kinard, Samantha Waters, the Gerald Bromander family, and residents and staff of Pleasant View Care Center.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilda; his daughter, Carma Johnson; his parents, Albert and Edna Erickson; and his brothers, Donald Erickson and Merlin Erickson.
Funeral services were 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Castana Community Church at Castana with Pastors Linda Boggs and Harvey Hanson officiating. Music selections were “How Great Thou Art” and “Hymn Of Promise” with Darren Goslar as soloist and Benita Davis as organist.
Casket bearers were Chad Johnson, Eric Johnson, Brent Johnson, Darin Johnson, Ericka Erickson, Aaron Erickson, Brandon Patten, and Devin Patten.
Burial was in the Kennebec Township Cemetery, rural Castana with Military Honors provided by the Grimsley-Thayer American Legion Post #502 of Castana. Visitation was 5–8 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, at the Rush Family Chapel in Onawa with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Arrangements were under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa.
Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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