Erick Verner Thomas Erickson passed away on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford N.D, at the age of 90. He was born on July 27, 1920, the last of five children born to Helga Thomas and Erick H. Erickson, on the home farm located in Antelope Valley in Benson County, where his father homesteaded.

As a child, he attended the West Antelope Valley Grade School, to which he rode four miles on horseback, and later the Benson County Agricultural and Training School at Maddock ND. At a 1945, New Years Dance in Oberon, he met Dallas Jeanette Nelson. They were married on December 21, 1946, in Fargo, ND, and during the first ten years of married life, they lived on the home farm located eight miles north of Bremen ND.

At the age of 36, Erick decided farming just wasn't for him, so he and Dallas packed up their two daughters, Dawn and Vernette, and left the farm. They moved to Wahpeton and Erick attended classes at the State School of Science. From here he was offered a job with the US Postal Service in St. Paul, MN, where the family then moved and son, Jeffrey was born. Erick first worked at the downtown main post office and then later transferred to the Airmail Facility at the Wold Chamberlain Airport (MSP) where he worked for 25 years. After retiring from the post office, Erick spent another 10 years working at Hardware Hank in St. Paul, nearby the family's home.

Erick volunteered as a Boy Scout leader, and was an active member of St. Luke Lutheran Church of St. Paul as well as the Swedish Institute. A master of all trades, he loved ballroom dancing and he and Dallas would often come home with awards. He was an avid reader and especially loved westerns and Zane Grey books. He also loved playing cards, especially Whist, which he played from childhood to adulthood, with his grandsons, co-workers and friends. He loved traveling, fishing and camping with the grandsons at Lake Carlos. He enjoyed his travels, whether in the United States or overseas. Basically, he loved nature, and could just sit and take in his surroundings, from the stars in the skies, to the fields of wheat, to the sounds of the wildlife.

But, ultimately, Verner's most loved treasure in life was his wife Dallas. Their deep affection for one another remained unchanged during their 65 years together, as shown by their frequent hand-holding, kisses and loving caresses. He wanted for little, but gave a lot and could find a sense of humor in anything, with a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous smile.

He will be remembered and deeply missed by his wife Dallas; two daughters Dawn (Craig) Johnson, Cave Creek, AZ, Vernette Losee, Denver, CO; and son Jeffrey Erickson, Glendale, AZ, grandsons; Travis Losee, Denver, CO, Chad (Kasey) Paulus, Minnetonka, MN, Brian Paulus, Minneapolis, MN, Erick Paulus, Tacoma, WA; many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, family requests memorials to Augustana Lutheran Cemetery Fund,

c/o Eugene Anderson, 104 6th St N, New Rockford, ND, 58356.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Calvary Lutheran Church, Oberon, ND

DATE AND TIME: Monday, November 1, 2010 at 10:30 AM

INTERMENT: Augustana Lutheran Cemetery, rural Sheyenne, ND