Obituary of Carl W. Erickson

Carl Wilbert Erickson, 94, formerly of Cambridge, died on Monday, June 20, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake, Minnesota. He was born on August 11, 1921 in West Cambridge to Olaf and Johanna Erickson, the fourth of five children. He was baptized, confirmed, and a lifetime member of Cambridge Lutheran Church. Carl attended West Riverside grade school and graduated from Cambridge High School. In the fall of 1942, Carl enlisted in the U.S. Navy and began training at their medical school. During the war, Carl served in Oakland, California, the South Pacific and finally at Corvallis and Medford, Oregon prior to his discharge in 1946. Shortly after his discharge from the Navy, Carl began working at Cambridge State Hospital. He spent 34 years in the EEG department. Carl also drove bus for the Cambridge School District, often driving for track and cross-country events. He regularly brought treats for the runners. On June 30, 1951, he was united in marriage to Clarice R. Torkelson of Karlstad, Minnesota. Carl and Clarice loved to travel, visiting Scandinavia, seeing the Passion Play in Germany and also touring many states in the U.S. Carl also loved going to Bible Camp at Mt. Carmel in Minnesota and Stonecraft in Hollister, Missouri. Following Clarice’s death, Carl re-acquainted with his high school friend, Elaine Christensen, to whom he married on August 5, 2006. He loved being active with gardening, working around his home, making maple syrup, and especially the annual lutefisk suppers at Cambridge Lutheran Church. Carl loved animals of all kinds and much enjoyed musical programs of all types. However, he most enjoyed time spent with family and friends. Carl is survived by wife Elaine of Eden Prairie; daughters Connie (Alan) Overland of Sturgeon Lake and Kristie (David) Krier of Barnum; granddaughter Angela (Tommy) Breeden & children Jacob, Anna, Elijah and Titus of Bryn Mawr, PA; Katie (Kilton) Kingsman and children John and Kilton III of Pensacola, FL; step daughters Karen Alexander of Eden Prairie, Christopher (Rachel) Alexander and their children Allison and Jackson, Cherie (Jim) Nehl of Eden Prairie and children Matthew and Michelle and Carolyn (Hiro) Kusuhara of Japan and their daughter Emily; step granddaughter Nikki Wongdoch of Chaska and children Sydney and Leilani, son-in-law Dr. John (Trish) Cosgrove of Chattanooga; sisters-in-law Roberta Erickson of Dalbo, Valborg Torkelson of Karlstad, Marie Braaten of Fargo, Louise Becker of Warren and brother-in-law Oliver Torkelson of Strandquist, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends including Perry and Maija Robinson and sons. He is preceded in death by his parents Olaf and Johanna; wife Clarice, daughter Carol Cosgrove; siblings Leonard Erickson, Clifford Erickson, Margaret Christenson and Julie Hinton; sisters-in-law Edna Erickson, Milly Torkelson, Thelma Thompson, and Amy Fedji; brothers-in-law Reuben Christenson, Foster Hinton, Norval Torkelson, Omer Thompson, Joel Fedji and Ken Braaten; stepdaughter Cathy Morkuson; and step grandson Riki Kusuhara. Carl was loved by many and will be dearly missed. Blessed be his memory.