1938
Richard
2011
Richard Erickson
March 18, 1938 — April 14, 2011
Richard "Dick" Paul Erickson, age 73, of Luverne and formerly of Blomkest, died Thursday morning, April 14, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, April 18, at the Blomkest Community Center in Blomkest. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery near Blomkest. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Sunday, April 17, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Blomkest Fire Department and First Responders, the Minnesota State Softball Hall of Fame, Rice Hospice, the Veterans Home in Luverne, the Blomkest Baptist Church or the donor's choice are preferred.
Dick was born on March 18, 1938, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Alger and Ranghild (Nelson) Erickson. Dick was the younger of the two boys. He grew up in the Blomkest community and graduated from Willmar High School in 1956. He attended St. Cloud State University for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1958, serving in Germany during peace time. Dick returned home from service in 1960 and joined his bother Bob in Erickson Hardware; where he worked for over 47 years before retiring and turning the business over to his nephews; Ryan and Matt Erickson and niece, Dana Roderick. He still enjoyed being at the store till he left for the VA nursing home on January 27, 2011.
In 1966, Dick was united in marriage to Catherine Collins in Witten, South Dakota and they made their home in Blomkest A daughter, Patricia was born to them in 1976. Dick was a very avid fast pitch softball pitcher and player. He started playing at the age of 16 and played into his 60's; playing in many State, Regional and National tournaments. The highlight of his career was when he was inducted into the Minnesota State Softball Hall of Fame in 1995. He shared his enthusiasm and love of softball by instructing Patty to be a softball pitcher and was proud of her accomplishments. Dick was very community minded; being a member of the Blomkest Sportsman Club, Blomkest Commercial Club, and serving as a Blomkest Fireman and First Responder. He was an active member of the Blomkest Baptist Church; seeing that all the lights and heat were on, the bushes trimmed and greeting church people with a big smile.
In 2005, Dick was diagnosed with semantic or frontal lobe dementia and life gradually became more difficult for him. On March 26th, Dick suffered from bleeding in his head that caused complications in resulting in his death this past Thursday at the VA Nursing Home in Luverne. Dick would want to say thank you to the many friends that helped him in his last years to be at home.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cathy of 45 years; his daughter, Patricia (and Fiance, Matt Myrvik) and grandson, Owen of Minneota; one sister-in-law, Evie Paulson; three nephews, Ross (and Margaret), Ryan (and Kelly) and Matt (and Raianne) Erickson; one niece, Dana (and Tom) Roderick; several great nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Robert and several aunts and uncles.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, April 18, at the Blomkest Community Center in Blomkest. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery near Blomkest. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Sunday, April 17, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Blomkest Fire Department and First Responders, the Minnesota State Softball Hall of Fame, Rice Hospice, the Veterans Home in Luverne, the Blomkest Baptist Church or the donor's choice are preferred.
Dick was born on March 18, 1938, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Alger and Ranghild (Nelson) Erickson. Dick was the younger of the two boys. He grew up in the Blomkest community and graduated from Willmar High School in 1956. He attended St. Cloud State University for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1958, serving in Germany during peace time. Dick returned home from service in 1960 and joined his bother Bob in Erickson Hardware; where he worked for over 47 years before retiring and turning the business over to his nephews; Ryan and Matt Erickson and niece, Dana Roderick. He still enjoyed being at the store till he left for the VA nursing home on January 27, 2011.
In 1966, Dick was united in marriage to Catherine Collins in Witten, South Dakota and they made their home in Blomkest A daughter, Patricia was born to them in 1976. Dick was a very avid fast pitch softball pitcher and player. He started playing at the age of 16 and played into his 60's; playing in many State, Regional and National tournaments. The highlight of his career was when he was inducted into the Minnesota State Softball Hall of Fame in 1995. He shared his enthusiasm and love of softball by instructing Patty to be a softball pitcher and was proud of her accomplishments. Dick was very community minded; being a member of the Blomkest Sportsman Club, Blomkest Commercial Club, and serving as a Blomkest Fireman and First Responder. He was an active member of the Blomkest Baptist Church; seeing that all the lights and heat were on, the bushes trimmed and greeting church people with a big smile.
In 2005, Dick was diagnosed with semantic or frontal lobe dementia and life gradually became more difficult for him. On March 26th, Dick suffered from bleeding in his head that caused complications in resulting in his death this past Thursday at the VA Nursing Home in Luverne. Dick would want to say thank you to the many friends that helped him in his last years to be at home.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cathy of 45 years; his daughter, Patricia (and Fiance, Matt Myrvik) and grandson, Owen of Minneota; one sister-in-law, Evie Paulson; three nephews, Ross (and Margaret), Ryan (and Kelly) and Matt (and Raianne) Erickson; one niece, Dana (and Tom) Roderick; several great nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Robert and several aunts and uncles.
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