Vieno Erickson

Funeral Services for Sylvia Erickson, 89, of Killdeer will be 10:00 a. m. , Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Killdeer, ND. Burial will be in the Killdeer Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 p. m. – 7 p. m. , Monday, November 17, 2008 at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Killdeer, ND. Visitation will continue on Tuesday one hour prior to the service. Sylvia passed away on Friday, November 14, 2008 at the Hill Top Home of Comfort in Killdeer, ND. Viano ?Sylvia? Erickson was born on February 1, 1919 on a farm near Lawton ND, the third of eleven children to Jalmer and Hilda (Rekola) Lehtinen. She attended school in Brocket, and graduated from Brocket High School in 1937. Sylvia attended Business College at Grand Forks and worked at the State Mill and Elevator until she enlisted in the WAVES in July of 1944. She attended boot training in the Bronx in New York. Following Yeoman training at Stillwater OK, she was stationed in Aurora OR, and at the Naval Air Station in Seattle Washington. She was honorably discharged as a Yeoman 3rd class on April 3, 1946. Sylvia was very proud of her service to her Country. Sylvia married Carlo Erickson at Devils Lake ND in 1946. They started their lives together in Brocket, where she worked at the Brocket Post Office. In 1949 they moved to Colburn ND where their three children were born. In the spring of 1955 they moved to Killdeer ND, where they spent the rest of their lives. Carlo and Sylvia owned and operated the Killdeer Grain Company where she worked as bookkeeper for many years. Sylvia started working at the Killdeer Post Office in 1967, where she was employed until her retirement in 1987. Sylvia was a member of St. John?s Lutheran church, and the Women of the Church. She was active in her children?s lives as a Cub Scout Den Mother, an assistant 4-H leader for 8 years, president of the PTA, and was the treasurer and historian for the American Legion Auxiliary for 23 years. Sylvia enjoyed her birthday whist clubs, bowling, and gardening. Her greatest joy was reading, until macular degeneration robbed her of her eyesight. Sylvia was proud of her Finnish heritage, and could speak Finn. A highlight of her life was a 1984 trip to Finland with Carlo and all of her sisters to meet their Finnish relatives. Sylvia is survived by her son, John Erickson, Killdeer; and Vickie (Don) Trotter, Grassy Butte; three grandchildren, Jeffery Erickson of Kalispell MT; Luke Trotter, Grassy Butte; Matthew (Kayla) Trotter, Bismarck; and two great grandchildren, Andrew and Adam Trotter. Also surviving her are three sisters, Dagmar Ruuska, Nebraska; Ruth Erickson of Devils Lake; and Helmi Becker of Park Rapids MN, along with many nieces and nephews. Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; Carlo her husband of 49 years; daughter Carol Erickson, and brothers Reino, Arvo, Oliver, Oiva, and Waino Lehtinen, and her sisters Esther Deakins and Lillian Beebe.


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Burial Date: November 18, 2008
Funeral Home Killdeer, ND

Funeral Service: Tuesday, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Killdeer, ND