Funeral services for Sandra Erickson of Roseau will be held on Friday, August 30, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau. Visitation will be at Helgeson’s on Thursday from 5 – 7 with a 7:00 prayer service and one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Malung Cemetery.
Sandra was born on February 23, 1940 to Louie and Bertha (Erickson) Johnson in Roseau MN. She attended school in Wannaska, Malung, and Roseau. She was united in marriage to Percy Erickson December 30, 1956 at Pine Grove Lutheran Church in Pencer. They bought the family farm where they worked the land, ran a dairy operation, and raised their five children. In her younger years she sold Avon products and was remembered by many as “the Avon Lady.” She worked seasonal jobs, one for MN Forestry in the fire tower, and out in the Valley with her dear friend, Glenda Norberg, during potato harvest. She work 13 years at Polaris in the 70’s and early 80’s, when she left to help with the dairy operation. After selling the cows, she had a cleaning business, S&J Cleaning, with her daughter for over 10 years. She retired from that to take care of her mother.
Sandra loved her gardens. She had beautiful flower gardens and for many years had huge vegetable gardens. She loved baking, and was a master cook. There was always a jar or 2 or 3 full of her cookies in the kitchen – this was very important to her grandkids. Most of all she loved her kids. She was their rock. And she loved all her kids’ friends – the farm became a second home for many over the years, and nobody left hungry. Mom and dad’s door was always open. She adored her 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She always had treats in the freezer and in the cupboard for them, and she never worried about spoiling their dinner…sssshhhhh.
Sandra loved Christmas! She spent days decorating inside and out, even the barn would be decorated. The gifts around the tree filled half the living room. She saved all year long to shop for her family at Christmas. Deer season was equally as big an event as Christmas. Part of the barn was turned into Deer Camp with kitchen, dining and sleeping quarters. Everyone came home for deer season, as well as many cousins and dear friends to stay. Food was prepared, songs were sung, and dancing ensued from the youngest to the oldest.
In their later years, the barn would be shut down for the winter, and she and Percy would hit the road for Yuma, AZ where they rented a hookup for their trailer from the Loftons. Then in 2015 they bought their own place. They loved it in Yuma, spending time with their many “snow bird” friends, especially Fran and Larry.
Sandra was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2016. That winter was spent traveling back and forth to Mayo for treatment. In remission for the winter of 2017 and 18, they spent in AZ. This turned out to be her last. Late fall of 2018 the cancer returned and was also found in her lungs. After many treatments, cancer won the battle. On April 5th it had spread to her brain and she came home to spend the remainder of her days with her family at home.
She was loved my more than she even knew. She is our angel now.
She is survived my her husband Percy; son Bert (Debbie) Erickson of Roseau, daughter Julie (Marty) Lendobeja of Palm Bay, FL, daughter Dixie (Chuck) Hoard of Thief River Falls, son Jack (Carisa) Erickson of Roseau, and daughter Jill (Dan) Geroy of Roseau; eleven grandchildren, 17 great- grandchildren; brother Virgil (Donna) Johnson of Roseau, and sister Bev (Don) Pearson of Tucson, AZ; as well as many other relatives and great friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Louie and Bertha, and brother Lamar. Sandra passed away at her home surrounded by her family.
Last modified: 08/28/2019
