Esther Linnea Erickson, 98, of Rockford, Ill. and Grand Marais, died Feb. 7, 2013 in Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center.
Esther was born to Tina (Lundquist) and Erik Erickson on Oct. 3, 1914 in Minneapolis. She graduated from South High School and joined “The Sunshine Brigade,” an evangelistic team who traveled the Midwest. She moved to Chicago to attend the Salvation Army College for officer training, receiving a commission as a lieutenant and an assignment to Holdredge, Neb.
In 1937 Esther married Lt. Gunnar Erickson and together they served as (pastors) officers in Marinette, Wis., Duluth and St. Paul, Minn. and Chicago, Moline and Rockford, Ill.
Esther was an accomplished musician and singer and a warm and compassionate part of their ministry. In addition, she was exceptional in needlework and homemaking, and a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. The Ericksons spent their vacation time on the North Shore of Lake Superior and when they retired in 1973 they moved to Grand Marais, spending summers there and winters in Rockford, Ill. In retirement they traveled as evangelists for the Salvation Army in the Pacific Northwest and the Caribbean Islands.
In March 2010 the Ericksons were honored in Chicago as “Heroes of the Faith” for their extraordinary career as Corps Officers (pastors) in the Salvation Army.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents; a brother Stanley; sister Edna; husband Gunnar; and daughter-in-law Nancy (John) Erickson.
She is survived by her daughter Miriam (Richard) Horen of Grand Marais; son John (Dawn) Erickson of Rockford, Ill.; and grandchildren Jennifer (Joseph) Gould of Tabernash, Colo., Julie Horen of Thornton, Colo., Joanna (Michael) Lamm of Rockford, Bryant (Karen) and Matthew Erickson of Rockford, and Michael (Jisan) Erickson of Chicago; greatgrandchildren Bradley, Brianna and Benjamin Gould, Khrystian and Kai Blazier, Alexandra and Kaitlynn Erickson; a great-greatgrandson Gunnar Gould; sister Vivian Fjellman; and nephews Steven (Lynette) and Jonathan (Linda) Fjellman; and family in Sweden.
A funeral service was held Feb. 11 in the Salvation Army Rockford Temple. Burial was in Glen Oak Cemetery, Hillside, Ill. The family prefers memorials to Esther Erickson Memorial Fund for Haiti, c/o The Salvation Army Rockford Temple Corps, 500 S. Rockford Ave., Rockford, IL 61104.
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