Waldo Erickson

Waldo Erickson was born in Itasca County to Eddie and Constance (Elmgren) Erickson on September 20, 1915. He married Irene Sanders on February 14, 1948 in East St. Paul. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, 3 brothers, 1 sister, and a daughter - Linda in childhood. He is survived by a sister, 5 sons and daughters-in-law: Jim and Nancy of Arlington; Mark and Deb of Donnelly; George and Jan of Springfield; Lee and Gail of Mt. Lake; Bill and Peggy of Blue Earth; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. He attended high school in Deer River, MN and graduated with high distinction from the University of Minnesota in 1942 just in time to be drafted into the Army for 4 years - entering as a private and discharged as a Major. He was engaged in 5 battle campaigns in Europe from Utah Beach to the Elbe River and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Following service he was employed at Del Monte Corporation as experimental field man and farm foreman. He farmed southeast of Morgan and southeast of Springfield, manufactured a cultivator shield which he invented and patented, worked briefly as an accountant and was disabled 13 years by polyarteritis nodosa. He held offices in Farm Bureau, the Brown Soil and Water Conservation District, the State Corn Picking Contest, served as shop advisor to Burnstown 4-H, and was later volunteer Medicare forms advisor. He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church, served as treasurer and was bookkeeper 15 years, and was instrumental in revising the church constitution. He wintered 12 years at Coolidge, AZ, enjoyed golf, pool, cards, and reading, and spending declining years residing at Riverview Cooperative Housing.