OBIT: Ellen Kay (BERKSTRESSER) ERICKSON, 2005, native of Blair County, PA

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ELLEN KAY BERKSTRESSER ERICKSON 

      Mrs. Ellen Kay Berkstresser Erickson, age 55, of Costa Mesa, CA 
and a former Tipton resident died Monday, January 17, 2005. She was 
born November 16, 1949 in Altoona as one of a set of triplets, the 
daughter of Bernard S. and Eleanor L. Burket Berkstresser. She is 
survived by her husband, Rodger Erickson; one son, John Brubaker of 
Dillon, CO and his father Gary Brubaker of State College. Also 
surviving is her mother, Mrs. Eleanor Berkstresser Clark of Tyrone; a 
brother, Robert and wife Brenda Berkstresser of Lansing, KA; a sister 
Janet, wife of Harry Brown of Baltimore, MD; two brothers, Jerry and 
wife Lisa Berkstresser of Altoona and John and wife Lynne Berkstresser 
of Bethlehem, who with Ellen Kay were triplets. Also surviving are 
three nieces, Donna Cape, Sue Ellen Rabeaux and Holly Kindig; four 
nephews, Robert Berkstresser Jr., Brant Berkstresser, Scott Brown and 
Justin Prisk. She was preceded in death by a brother Bernard D. 
Berkstresser.
      She was a graduate of Bellwood-Antis High School, Class of 1967, 
received an Associate Degree from Mount Aloysius in 1969 in Medical 
Science. She worked for one year as a medical secretary at Altoona 
Hospital and moved to California where she was employed as a medical 
secretary for a number of years. When in Tipton she was a member of the 
Tipton Methodist Church. She was invited via her association with the 
Marlboro Man, who died of lung cancer from smoking, to journey through 
Europe at the invitation of Senator Ted Kennedy where she spoke in 17 
countries to government officials to urge curtailment of advertising by 
the tobacco industry to aid in encouraging non-smoking among the youth 
of Europe.
      Funeral service for Mrs. Erickson will be held Monday, January 
24, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home Inc. with 
Reverend Norman E. Huff officiating. Private interment will be at the 
convenience of the family at Blair Memorial Park. Contributions in her 
memory may be made to the Care Assurance Fund of Epworth Manor, 951 
Washington Ave., Tyrone, PA 16686.  

Tyrone Daily Herald, January 21, 2005