Gary Guy Erickson

Gary G. Erickson, age 78, of Sunburg, died Friday, September 17, 2021, at Carris Health Therapy Suites in Willmar.

His funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 21, at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake near New London.   Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church.  Military Honors will be provided by the New London American Legion.  Memorials are preferred to Carris Health Rice Hospice.  Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.

Gary Guy Erickson was born on August 1, 1943 in St. James, Missouri, the son of Guy and Nettie (Ratzlaff) Erickson. At a young age he moved to North Mankato, MN. He was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church, where he was baptized and confirmed. He graduated from Mankato High School in 1961. In January 1964 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Gary attended Syracuse University, where he was enrolled in the Russian Language program and served as a Russian linguist for the USAF. He was honorably discharged in September 1967 and returned to Mankato State University, receiving his degrees in Sociology and Russian Language. Later in life, Gary’s passion for his Scandinavian heritage led him to the University of Oslo, where he studied Norwegian language, culture, and history.

On October 7, 1967, he married Leslie K. Floyd at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, MN. They raised three children, Matthew, Kristin, and Anna-Lisa. He was employed by the state of MN as an employment interviewer, counselor, and ultimately the CETA Center Supervisor. He later started his own employment company, Regional Professional Vocational Services, Inc., which he operated for several years. Gary was later self-employed as a forensic examiner until his retirement in 1995. In 2004, Gary and Les built their retirement home on Norway Lake, on the very same property where 29 years of family camping and fun had occurred.

One of the most memorable things about our dad is his genuine pride in his Norwegian heritage and passion for sharing this with all who knew him. Dad was an active member of the Minneapolis Torske Klubben, a Norwegian men’s club. They would gather at the Interlachen Country Club to socialize with their brothers of Norwegian descent. He was a contributing editor for the Norwegian American Weekly newspaper. Dad taught Norwegian language at the KulturHus in Sunburg. He was the president of Møre og Romsdal, an organization that upholds the genealogical culture and history of that region in Norway. He was also a member of Sons of Norway and Swedish Friends.

Gary had many hobbies. They included, but were not limited to antique decoy collecting, wood carving, ham radio, hunting, fishing, classic sports cars, and riding motorcycles. He enjoyed traveling, especially to Norway and his forever favorite place Maui, HI. At the end of the day, Gary was most passionate about his faith and his family. He spent hours watching and video recording Matthew’s hockey games, and now his granddaughters’ hockey games. He despised his iPhone but he loved FaceTiming with his granddaughters, Reese and Elin. Like his mother, Gary’s favorite Bible verse was John 3:16. He lived his life by following Jesus and he looked forward to seeing his Savior. And now he has.

Welcome home. Well done thou good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Lord.

He is survived by his wife, Leslie; three children, Matthew Erickson of Foley, MN, Kristin (and Scott) Erickson Bocks of Excelsior, MN, and Anna-Lisa Erickson, of Saint Louis Park, MN; two granddaughters, Reese (17) and Elin (12) Bocks; and two sisters, Leilani (and Joe) Barnes of Alexandria, MN, and Terry Lynn (and Larry) Sparks of Lake Crystal, MN; and many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.