Erickson, Mrs. John, 1878-1953

ERICKSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/6/2011 at 07:18:00

MRS. ERICKSON DIES AT AGE 74

Mrs. John Erickson, 74, of Lake Andes, S.D., died March 1 in the Cummins Nursing home in Sioux City where she had been a patient two months.

Mrs. Erickson was the daughter of pioneer residents of Union county, Mr. and Mrs. Lars J. Johnson, and she grew up in the Big Springs vicinity. Her father filed on a homestead and for two years the family lived in a shod [i.e., sod?] shanty built by her father.

She was born October 30, 1878 in Sweden, and was one of a family of 11 children. During her life in the Big Springs area she was affiliated with the Big Springs Baptist church. It was in this same church that she was married to John Ericson July 18, 1897. To this union 12 children were born.

After her marriage she lived on a farm one year. They then moved to Beresford where they operated a hotel. Later she lived in Alcester and Hawarden, and Mr. Erickson engaged in carpenter contracting and interior decorating. They returned to their farm in 1910 and for 22 years lived there. In 1932 they retired and moved to Beresford. In December, 1950, when her health failed her they moved to Lake Andes, S.D., to be near two of their children. She was taken to a Sioux City hospital December 2 and later to the Cummins Nursing home in Sioux City.

Survivors are the widower; six sons, Vernon Erickson of Redlands, Calif., Raymond of Riverside, Calif., Orlin of Lake Andes, S.D., La Voy of Northfield, Minn., and Melvin and Milton of Sioux City; three daughters, Mrs. Florence Eckert of Sioux City, Mrs. Ella Ericson of Canton, S.D., and Mrs. Ray Ebsen of Lake Andes, S.D.; two brothers, Emil O. and Martin T. Johnson of Alcester; one sister, Mrs. Alma Ericson of Fargo, N.D.; 16 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral services were held last Wednesday, March 4, at the Wass Funeral Home at Beresford and the Big Springs Baptist church with Rev. Edwin C. Antrim and Rev. D. A. Miller officiating. Burial was in the Big Springs cemetery.

Source: Hawarden Independent, March 12, 1953