George Erickson, 75, of Northfield, Minn. passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, Minn. surrounded by his family.
He was born on March 12, 1934 in Tintah, Minn. to Leonard and Otilda (Stumpf) Erickson. He attended and graduated from West Central School of Agriculture in 1953 and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1954, serving 12 months in Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1957. Later that year he was united in marriage to Erma Strom at St. Gall Catholic Church in Tintah. Together they made their home in Minneapolis until 1972 when they moved to rural Webster, Minn.
George worked as a bus driver for Jefferson Lines from 1957 until 1968. In 1968, he started working for Adams Communications where he enjoyed a 20-plus year career as chief pilot. In 1988, he took up his true passion of farming and wetland restoration. George was honored as the Mower County Conservation Farmer of the Year in 2001 and continued to be involved with his farming operation up until the time of his death. George established the Erma Erickson Scholarship at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
He is survived by two sons, David (Jerilyn) Erickson of Lonsdale, Minn. and Daniel (Laura) Erickson of Lakeville, Minn.: two daughters, Susan (Bob) Benson of Northfield, Minn. and Kristin (Paul) Hindt of Lansing, Minn.; eight grandchildren, Stephen and Nathan Erickson, Bailey and Becky Erickson, Rob and Matthew Benson and Megan and Joseph Bergevin; one brother, Roger (Mary Ann) Erickson of Elbow Lake, Minn.; and friend, Mary Jondal.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 42 years, Erma, in 1999; and siblings, Lenny Erickson, Roseann Gerhardson and Lenore Hawkenson.
There will be a celebration of life for George Erickson from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 at Trondhjem Lutheran Church, Lonsdale, Minn. A short service will take place at 4 p.m.
The family prefers memorials to Seasons Hospice in Rochester.
Hindt Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left on line at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com.