Gordon Erickson

Gordon Edwin Erickson was born on August 8, 1929 in Stony Run Township, Yellow Medicine County, MN, the son of Edward J. and Cora Erickson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended country school. Gordon proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict as a sergeant in the United States Army from 1951 ? 1953. Upon his honorable discharge, Gordon returned home and on December 1, 1957 was united in marriage to Gretchen Stelter at Zion Evangelical Church in Island Lake Township, Lyon County, MN. Gordon farmed for many years south of Granite Falls in Minnesota Falls Township and as a young man, assisted in the construction of Granite Falls Lutheran Church. Gordon was a faithful member of Granite Falls Lutheran Church and served as a Trustee. He was also on the Board of Directors of Equity Elevator & Trading Company and the SWCD Board. He was also a member of the Granite Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking and in his later years he became interested in searching for stones and collecting & polishing them. Some of these he made into jewelry for family members. Gordon also loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren and even in his retirement, still looked forward to riding along during field work and harvest season whenever he could. On Tuesday morning May 12, 2009, while outdoors doing what he enjoyed, Gordon was called from this life on the farm. He was 79 years of age. He is survived by his children- Darlene (& Jim) Erickson of Granite Falls, MN, Dwayne (& Connie) Erickson of Granite Falls, MN, Patricia (& Greg) Massmann of Granite Falls, MN, Debra (& Dan) Barter of Buffalo, MN and JoAnn Erickson of Albert Lea, MN; grandchildren- Michelle Marthaler of Milan, MN, Kristin Marthaler of Watertown, SD, Jessica Erickson of Granite Falls, MN, Philip Erickson of Minneapolis, MN, Allison Erickson of Granite Falls, MN, Cole (& Trisha) Massmann of Granite Falls, MN, Abby (& Derrick) Kvendru of Minnetonka, MN, Amanda Massmann of Granite Falls, MN, Rebecca Barter of Buffalo, MN, Emily Barter of Buffalo, MN, Matthew of Buffalo, MN, Jacob Kunkel and Elizabeth Kunkel both of Albert Lea, MN.and 2 great grandchildren. Preceding Gordon on death were his parents; his wife (in 2003); a sister-in-law Theresa Erickson; a brother-in-law Butch Stelter; one niece Karen Stelter and one nephew Steven Stelter.