Richard A. Erickson, of Milan, died Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at his home in Milan at the age of 82.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 9, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Kviteseid Lutheran Church in Milan with Rev. Kristine Isder officiating. Burial will be in the Kviteseid Lutheran-Milan Methodist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 8, 2017 at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo from 4-6 PM with a prayer service at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.
Richard Arlon Erickson was born in Chippewa County to Selmer and Amanda (Stensrud) Erickson on November 18, 1934. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Lucas Lutheran Church. The family moved to Strawberry Lake in 1941 and Richard attended country school there until 8th grade. He then attended high school in Cottonwood, graduating in 1952. He served in the United States Air Force from 1955-1959 as an encriptor and served in Germany. Upon discharge from the Air Force he moved back to Minnesota. Richard was united in marriage to Elaine Hegg at Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo on September 3, 1960. They had four children: Greg, Mark, Sandra, and Scott.
Dick loved the land and loved to farm. He farmed near Milan from 1967 until 1984. He was a member of the Milan American Legion, the DFL, Chippewa County Fair Board, FHA Board, ASC Board, and Lions Club. He served as the president of the Lions club, as a state delegate to the DFL and as a 4-H leader. He was honored in 1980 as the Conservation Farmer of the Year and that same year hosted Terraceville.
He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and spoke Norwegian He enjoyed listening to music and was especially fond of the violin, which his father played, and Norwegian Folksongs from Norway which his daughter sang and played the violin for him. Family also remembers that Dick enjoyed hunting on occasion. His real love of hunting was visiting with all the other hunters that would come to the area. He truly enjoyed talking and sharing stories with family, friends, and even strangers. Most of all, Dick loved his family and enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren.
Dick is survived by his wife, Elaine; his children: Greg of Milan, Mark of Watson, Sandra Erickson of Montevideo and Scott (Denise) of Independence, MN; grandchildren: Kari (Jake Johnson) Moe, Martha (Peder Holte) Moe, Anna Erickson-Jeremiason, Sara Erickson-Jeremiason, Per Erickson-Jeremiason, Kaia Erickson and Luke Erickson; brothers: Jerry Erickson, Eric (Diane) Erickson, Ron (Mary) Erickson, David (Helen) Erickson; sisters: Gloria (Don) Okrina, Carol (Marv) Okrina, Joyce (Ron) Gregg, and Karen Dorschner; as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandchild, Brycen Erickson; and brothers, Donald and James.