Kathleen Alderman (Hanson) Erickson (1927-2019)

ERICKSON, HANSON, ALDERMAN, MILLER, MULFORD

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

Obituary from O'Leary Funeral & Cremation Services, Norwalk, Iowa.

Kathleen Alderman Erickson
August 27, 1927 ~ July 10, 2019 (age 91)

Kathleen was born August 17, 1927 in Collins, Iowa, the only child of Lester and Leora Alderman Hanson.

Kathleen’s father was a farmer and her mother cared for the hired hands, cooked and cared for the house. After she graduated from high school, she began working at the Story County Courthouse as a secretary. One evening, Kathleen and a friend were attending a dance, and she met her future husband, Howard Erickson.

After they married, they moved to her grandparent’s farm just outside of Nevada. In 1953 Howard was drafted to service and served during the Korean War. Kathleen was pregnant with their daughter, Michele, when he left. While Howard was gone, Kathleen moved in with her parents. Approximately 3 years later Howard safely returned home to his wife and new daughter, and the couple returned to farming on Howard’s family farm just outside Cambridge where they farmed for the next 10 years. During that time, Kathleen taught piano, delivered eggs and directed the choir at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cambridge for 30 years. Howard’s parents had an insurance company where Kathleen would often help out.

In 1976, Howard and Kathleen moved into Cambridge. Howard passed away in 2005, and Kathleen stayed in their home until she turned 90, when she moved to Fountain West. She enjoyed reading her Bible, doing daily devotions and visiting with her family.

She died peacefully at Fountain West Health Care Center on July 10, 2019 with her daughter and family by her side.

Kathleen will be loving remembered by her daughter, Michele (Mark) Miller of Norwalk, granddaughters Carrie Mulford of West Des Moines and Katie Mulford (Jason Bailey) of Norwalk; and her great-grandchildren, Abbie, Noah, Addy and Teegan.