Gregory Erickson

Gregory "Butch" D. Erickson, age 68, of Kandiyohi, died Tuesday morning, March 31, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m., Monday, April 6, at the Church of St. Patrick in Kandiyohi. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday, April 5, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service Monday at the church.

Gregory Dean "Butch" Erickson was born February 18, 1947 at Rice Hospital in Willmar, MN to Gerald and Ellen (Power) Erickson. He grew up on his family's farm northwest of Kandiyohi, and attended District 78 Country School through 6th grade. Butch graduated Willmar Senior High School May 1965.

On April 8, 1967 Butch was united in marriage to Jacqueline Baklund at St. Patrick's Church in Kandiyohi. They lived in Willmar for 4 months before moving to their farm in rural Kandiyohi where they lived for nearly 48 years. Together Butch and Jackie raised two children, Tim and Krista.
Butch loved farming, especially combining. As a young man, he loved custom combining for area farmers, as well as his own crop. In 1983, Butch began dairy farming and expanded his herd in 1991 when his son Tim joined the family farm. They sold their herd December 2004, and continued crop farming together.

Restoring two-cylinder John Deere tractors became his passion in the late 1990's, and continued until his death. Each of his 5 grandson's was given a restored B JD when they were born. Butch developed a passion for antique tractor pulling, and was willing to travel many miles for "a good pull".

Butch enjoyed gardening and planting trees. His garden was not measured in square feet, but acres. This led to long hours with his daughter Krista weeding, harvesting and canning their produce.

Over the years, Butch volunteered his time with the Kandiyohi Elevator Board, St. Patrick's Boards, and caretaker of the St. Patrick's Cemetery. He was on the Green Lake Township Board the last 9 years of his life.

Butch is survived by his wife, Jackie; son, Tim (Jessica) of Kandiyohi; daughter. Krista (Mike) Osendorf of Roscoe; five grandsons, Ethan and Caleb Erickson, JT, Brennen and Connor Gunderson; sisters, Maggie Anderson of Atwater and Kathy (Dick) Oman of Spicer; mother-in-law, Betty Baklund of Willmar; brothers-in-law Greg (Ruth) Baklund and Floyd (Mary) Baklund; sister-in-law, Judy (Paul) Borscheid, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Roger Baklund; and brothers-in-law, Wayne Baklund and Dale Anderson.

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