Vernon Harold Erickson, 84 of rural St. Peter, passed away on Tuesday, July 3rd at the Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 7th at Norseland Lutheran Church in Norseland, MN. Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Friday (TODAY) at St. Peter Funeral Home " Klein Chapel with a prayer service at 6:30 pm. Visitation will continue 1 hour prior to the service at church.
Vernon was born on July 13, 1922 at home in New Sweden, MN to Albert and Effie (Berg) Erickson. He was baptized at Scandian Grove Lutheran church and was confirmed at first Evangelical Lutheran church in Lafayette. He attended country school in rural Nicollet County. On August 20, 1944 he married Mae Syverson at Norseland Norwegian Lutheran Church. Vernon drove truck and worked for Ray Derner doing custom combining. He then farmed for many years working on the Wally Pell farm in rural St. Peter, where he and Mae raised their 6 children. The last 20 years of his working career, "Happy Jack" operated a payloader for Johnson Aggregates of Rural Le Sueur.
During World War II, Vernon answered his country's call, proudly serving in the Asian Pacific Theater where he earned the Bronze Battle Star. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in October 1946. Vernon enjoyed watching any professional sports on TV, but especially his favorite teams; the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He also enjoyed attending stock car races and watching NASCAR on TV. Sunday afternoons would often find him listening to old time polka music on the radio. He took great pride in his yard and spent summers keeping his lawn neatly manicured. True to his Swedish heritage, Vernon thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family and friends over a cup of coffee. He and Mae had hosted many Sunday Afternoon family get-togethers and pot-luck picnics.
Vernon is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mae Erickson; three sons: Jim (Gladys), Ron, and Randy (LeighAnn Spoor) all of St. Peter; two daughters: Karen (Gary) Clemons of St. Peter and Patti (Dean) Roberts of Lake Crystal; six grandchildren: Debbie (Darren) Drost, Cheri Bednar, Ed (Patti) Engelby, Heidi (Dick) Ward, Jamie Erickson, and Christi Rema; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Harriet Derner and Dorothy Erickson; many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; all of his siblings: sisters Winnifred and Leora; brothers Gerry, George and Loren; one son, Tom; one granddaughter, KariAnn Youngerberg; and one grandson, Joshua Clemons.