Crystal May (Otteson) Erickson (1904-1948)

OTTESON, ERICKSON, HORGEN, JOHNSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/31/2020 at 22:18:44

From Nevada Evening Journal February 14, 1948 (page 4)

Last Rites For Mrs. George Erickson Held in Minnesota

The following obituary of the late Mrs. George Erickson, former Story county resident, was published in the Minnesota paper. Funeral services, which were held at Glenville, Minn., were attended by a number of Story county friends.

Crystal May Erickson was born July 6, 1904 at Gordonsville, Minn. She was the oldest of four children of Miles and Cora Otteson.

She attended school and grew to young womanhood there.

On January 21, 1921, at Albert Lea, Minn., she was married to George H. Erickson of Northwood, Ia. After a short honeymoon, they lived for several years south of Gordonsville, engaged in farming.

In the fall of 1931, Crystal and George moved to Nevada, Iowa, on a farm. She was baptised and confirmed in the Lutheran church of that town.

Crystal was active in church and social work. She was also ready to help in time of need. She had very sunny disposition and made many friends. She was loved by all who knew her. She was a great lover of flowers and could always find time to raise many of them in her garden. She was also very fond of children. Not having any of her own, she was always interested in every child she met. The children knew and loved Crystal too.

In the spring of 1946, she was taken ill with a chronic asthmatic condition. Thinking a change of climate would help, they moved to Park Rapids, Minn., December 14, 1946. Her condition not improving, she was taken to St. Joseph hospital in Park Rapids. From there she was transferred to the Eitel hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. After spending quite some time there, it was decided that she needed a more decided change of climate, so on November 20, 1947, George took Crystal to Albuquerque, New Mexico. She entered the Presbyterian hospital there and seemed to gain. She was released from the hospital, but stayed in Albuquerque, passing away Monday, January 26, 1948.

George was with his wife all through her illness taking a nurse's place in the hospital to give his wife the care she needed. During the time they were in New Mexico, he was with her continually, she wanting him by her side constantly.

Crystal's mother preceded her in death three years ago. She, missing her mother as only a daughter does, she had expressed a wish, during her illness, to be laid beside her mother in beautiful Greenwood cemetery.

She leaves to mourn her death, her beloved husband, her father, Miles Otteson, brother, Howard of Gordonsville; two sisters, Ora (Mrs. Melvin Horgen) of Northwood, Ia., and Inez June (Mrs. Owen Johnson) of Minneapolis; nephews, nieces other relatives and a host of friends.

Services were held at the Kontz Funeral Chapel and at the Glenville Lutheran church on Sunday, February 1. Rev. Korsrud, Mrs. Herb Buchanan and Mrs. Wilbur Buchanan sang at the services. Pall bearers were Harold Romer, Richard Reynolds, James Erickson, Lu Verne Erickson, Frank Flatt and Lief Odden.

Relatives from a distance included Mr. and Mrs. Roy Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Romer and Rodney, all of Nevix, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reynolds and Eugene Sillards, all of Duluth, Minn. Friends and neighbors from the vicinity of Nevada, Ia., that came for the services included Mr. and Mrs. Chet Pearson and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hanson, all of McCallsburg, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Roy Danielson, Lew Hanson, Mrs. Ralph Cessna, Mrs. Harold Huff, Mrs. Irene Samson, Mrs. Willard Samson, Miss Kathryn White, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Jensen, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Kruse, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ogden, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hanson, all of Nevada, Ia.; Lynn Danielson and Ben Arneson, both of Roland, Ia.