Marie Erickson, 93

Published 5:35 pm Thursday, March 27, 2025

Marie Erickson, 93

Marie “Mya” Erickson, 93, of Austin, Minn., passed away peacefully at Sacred Heart Care Center under the care of Mayo Hospice on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Marie Olivia Musgjerd was born on November 6, 1931, in rural Kenyon, Minnesota, to Hjordis Mork Musgjerd and Olaus Musgjerd. She was their third child, younger sister to Lloyd Musgjerd and Owen Musgjerd. Mya attended 1st through 8th grade at the one room school, Dovre, close to the farm where she was raised. When she was in 9th grade, Mya began attending school at Kenyon High School and was a cheerleader for the Kenyon Vikings. She graduated in 1949 and went on to work at the Kenyon Leader newspaper.

In 1952, Mya attended a dance near Faribault, Minnesota and met Orvis J. Erickson. They fell in love quickly and after a short courtship, were married on December 6, 1952, at Holden Lutheran Church, Kenyon. They settled in Austin where Orvis worked for Walman Optical. Mya and Orvis quickly began their family, having four children. Mya worked at home, raising the children, sewing many of their clothes, cooking all the meals, and taking care of a busy household.

After Orvis passed in 1974, Mya began volunteering at local elementary schools and held a variety of jobs after graduating from Austin Community College. She had many hobbies including league bowling, senior bus trips, raising fish in the backyard pond, watching/feeding birds, attending her grandchildren’s events, caring for her dogs, and enjoying the many hummingbirds who visited her backyard.

In 2017, Mya sold the house where she had lived for over 60 years and moved to the Village Co-op in Austin, where she made many friends. In the fall of 2024, she moved to the Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orvis; brothers and their wives, Lloyd and Hazel Musgjerd, Owen and Donna Musgjerd; brothers-in-law, Leo Erickson, Roger and Helen Erickson; and sisters-in-law, Mirdeth Erickson and LaVonne Rind; nephews, Scott Erickson and David Musgjerd.

Mya is survived by a son: Bruce (Mary) Erickson; three daughters: Lynn (Wayne) Voorhees, Kathy (Dave) Okeson, and Becky Enright; grandchildren: David (Lindsey) Erickson, Stacy Voorhees, Adam (Heather) Voorhees, Harley (Abby) Erickson, Doug (Renate) Okeson, Stefanie Okeson, Levi (Leah) Erickson, Andrea (Sam Hennessy) Okeson, Samantha Erickson, and Emily (Chad) Iverson; great grandchildren: Ethan, Lucas, Haylee, Nora; Eli, Leo, Ayla; Carter, Jordan, Zach, Azi, and Syd; sister-in-law, Velma Erickson; nephews, nieces, cousins, including those in Norway.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 5th at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with the Reverend William Odermann officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorials may be designated to Mayo Clinic Hospice or Sacred Heart Care Center.