Herbie Willie Erickson, 86, of Caledonia, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2019, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. He was born November 3, 1932, in Holt Township, Minn., to Randolph and Lillian (Helland) Erickson. Herbie enlisted in the United States Army and served as a Sergeant in the 1745th Light Weapons Infantry during the Korean War from January 30, 1953, until Jan. 28, 1956. On June 1, 1957, he married Beverly Lerol and they later divorced. Throughout his life, Herbie farmed on the family farm. He also worked at Duffy’s Excavating in Lanesboro, Minn., and a factory in Winona, Minn., before working for almost 32 years at the Minnesota DOT, District 6, Road Maintenance. During this same time, he also worked for Gengler’s Sno-Pac Foods in Caledonia. One of Herbie’s favorite pastimes was flower gardening and experimenting with different and unique items in his garden. After retirement, he expanded into raising grapes to make his own wine. He planted various fruit trees for the yard, along with being famous for all of his beautiful flowers and flower gardens. Herbie also enjoyed deer hunting and fishing with his children.
In the community he served as Boy Scout Leader for many years, helping many young boys with their achievements and awards and taking some of them to the top level and honor of Eagle Scout, including his son Peter at the age of 16. For many years he also took a lot of scouts to participate in the annual week long Cub Scout Resident Camp at Camp Decorah in Holmen, Wis., where they worked on additional merit badges. He used some of his vacation time from MnDOT to give the boys this great experience.
Survivors include the mother of his children, Beverly (Erickson) Aasum; his children: Susan (Lyle) Klug, Peter Erickson (fiancee’ Rose Morken), Arlene (Mike) Taylor, and David Erickson; grandchildren Angie (Jay) Welscher and Drew (Jenn) Klug, great-grandchildren: Taylor, Olivia, Eliza, and Eric Welscher and Brandon Clark; one sister, Lorraine Anfinson; one sister-in-law, Rochelle (Nick) Hegg; nephews and nieces: Ron (Edie) Hermanson, Arden Hermanson, Linda (David) Hundorf, Roger Hermanson, Robert (Caroline) Anfinson, RoseMary (Allen) Breitspreacher, Gladys (Jim) Hebl, Carol (Marty) Kirchhof, Robin (Jeff) Lindstrom and Missy Francois (fiance’ Mark).
Herbie was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and brother-in-law, Rosie and Arvid Hermanson; brother-in-law Ralph Anfinson, and one nephew and his wife, Merlin and Wendy Hermanson.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at First Lutheran Church (Highland Church), 22423 391st Ave., Lanesboro, Minn. Rev. Steven E. Meyer will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in the Highland Cemetery. A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday at Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home, 518 W. Main St., Caledonia, and from 9 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com.