Chuck Erickson, 75, Mandan, passed away May 16, 2022.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, May 23, at Bismarck Baptist Church, 2211 Laforest Ave, Bismarck.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m. at Bismarck Baptist Church.
Burial will be held Augustana Lutheran Church Cemetery, Sheyenne, ND.
A service livestream is also available for viewing at: https://www.facebook.com/bismarckbaptist/
I was born in the New Rockford, ND hospital in 1946. The first of my family to be born in a hospital I think, and the hospital has since been closed. There is no connection if that’s what you’re thinking. I attended country school at Grandfield #1, until it closed and then attended and graduated from Sheyenne Public in 1964. That school is closed too incidentally. I spent the first 18 years of my life on the Erickson Homestead Farm in Eddy County. I attended and graduated from NDSU in Fargo after cramming my 4 years into 10 majoring in Wildlife Biology.
Two very significant things happened to me in 1973. On March 23, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and my life has never been the same. In June of ’73, I met Karen Muri across an intersection in Medora, ND, and again, my life has never been the same. I married my best friend December 29, that same year on one of the coldest weekends on record (-44 and I didn’t even feel it). May each of our kids and each of our grandkids have as much joy in being married as I have had. What a trip!
We spent our first 30 years working as park manager at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park where we had Clay, Krisha, Cole, and Shale and 2 babies waiting for us in Heaven. We also fostered 50+ children. I retired from the park service in January of 2004 then worked at Shiloh Christian School and the Adult Abused Resource Center. I retired for good in December of 2009.
My life has been good with ups and downs, more ups and joy than downs. I have enjoyed my kids and their many activities and now am able to enjoy my grandkids and kids-in-laws and the activities they add to our life.
Keep Christ the center of your life and focus, and don’t forget!!! I’ll be watching and waiting for you in Heaven.
Chuck is survived by his wife Karen of 48 years; son, Clay Erickson (Rachelle) and their kids Evan and Axel; daughter, Krisha Fuller (Brian) and their kids Kursten, Kaden, Brynn and Brooklyn; son, Cole Erickson (Kim) and their kids Natalia, Alaina, and Hudson; son, Shale Erickson. Also, Chuck’s two sisters Diane Wash (Harlan) and Elaine Retzlaff (Wayne), Karen’s brothers Garvin Muri (Joanna) and Bob Muri (Patsy) and many, many, many nieces and nephews who he loved with all his heart and prayed for daily.
If you would like to send a memorial in Chuck Erickson’s name, send to either:
Steer Inc., 1025 N 3rd Street, Bismarck, ND 58501
KNDR Radio 1400 3rd St NE, Mandan, ND, 58554
