Cowlitz County WA Archives Obituaries..... Erickson, Viola May January 23, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wa/wafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: P. J. Stepp steppmom5@hotmail.com June 2, 2006, 5:23 pm Published in The Daily News on 1/25/2006. www.tdn.com/obits Viola May Erickson died peacefully at Hospice in the early morning hours of January 23, 2006. Viola was born May 27, 1912, to Conrad and Mary Anderson in Spring Brook, Minnesota. She grew up in the Karlstad, Minnesota area where she met her soon- to-be husband, Ernest Erickson. They were married November 3, 1930 in Warren, Minnesota. In 1936 they followed other family members to the Longview, Washington area. They joined Trinity Lutheran Church, and in 1938 their daughter, Marlys, was born. 1942 found Viola joining the workforce at Long Bell Lumber Co. She worked very hard in the factory, always pulling her share of the load, plus more at times. She remained with Long Bell for over 30 years before retiring. She and Ernie enjoyed dancing, playing cards with friends and family, bowling and sometimes fishing and golfing. They also looked forward to their yearly trips to Minnesota to be with family, and to Reno where they were known to spend a few nickels. However, Mom's greatest joy was her family, family holiday gatherings, camping and traveling in their RV, especially if the grandchildren were along. Viola was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church and especially enjoyed the Thursday Adult Study Class. Viola struggled for many years with severe back pain, but never gave up trying to be independent. The last few months of her life were spent at Pacific Country Homes, a wonderful adult care facility. A special thank you to all the staff who took such loving care of her. Viola was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest; an infant daughter, Mary Ellen; a beloved sister, Agnes; and brothers, Ingvold, Wesley and Ernest; and a special son-in-law, Richard Anderson. She is survived by her daughter, Marlys and her husband, Robert Beck; four grandchildren, Lori Pengra and husband Rob; Steven Anderson, Nancy Miller and husband, Robert and Julie Thompson. She had five great-grandchildren, Bethany, Jared and Anna Pengra and Samantha Sheridan and Tara Thompson; along with one great-great grandchild, precious baby, Zachary, whom she got to hold in her arms and love a few days before she died. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews who were precious to her. She loved Marlys' stepchildren and a special thank you to them for being a part of her life, especially Rick. We thank the Lord that she was in our lives. We will miss her and we are sad, but with the sadness there is a joy in knowing that she is in heaven, in that mansion of many rooms, where there is no pain or suffering and with the ones she loved so well and so long. The greater joy is knowing that in the future there will be a reunion, and what a reunion that will be, and we know it will be because He said so. Graveside services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Thursday the 26th of January, 2006 at Longview Memorial Park with Pastor Jeff Milsten officiating. A Memorial Service will be held at noon at Bethany Lutheran Church, 2900 Parkview Drive, Longview, with her grandson, Pastor Robert Pengra, leading the service. Please call the church, 577-8240 for directions. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, or Community Home Health & Hospice, PO Box 2067, Longview, WA 98632. Special thank you to Pastor Barney Rinkel, Pastor Jeff Milsten, Northwest Continuum Care Center, Hospice, and our Trinity and Bethany Families, and caring friends. Arrangements are by Dahl-McVicker Funeral Home. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wa/cowlitz/obits/e/erickson305gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wafiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb