Don Erickson

Don Erickson

Don Erickson died due to complications from a stroke on Jan. 11, at home with his family nearby. He was 79 years old.

He was born Sept 20, 1932, in Havre, Mont., to Edwin Hoyt Erickson and Luella Marie Megears. He graduated from the University of Montana, Missoula, in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

He later attended Michigan State University, 1965 to 1966, and graduated with a master's degree in accounting.

On May 14, 1955, he married Marlys Haney of Butte, Mont., and they had four children, Kim Marie Burr of Sonora, Calif., Karen Alice Wilson of Grass Valley, Calif., Jon Haney Erickson of West Jordan, Utah, and Karyl Ann Fletcher of Madera, Calif.

He joined the Air Force in 1955 and was honorably discharged at the rank of major in 1969. While in the Air Force he served as an officer for the Air Force at Travis Air Force Base, Thule Air Base in Greenland, the Air Force Academy in Colorade Springs, Naha Air Force Base in Okinawa, and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. While at the Pentagon, he wrote auditing training manuals for all of the armed services.

After he left the Air Force, he returned to northern Montana to operate a family cattle ranch with his father for four years. From 1974 to 1979, he worked for the University of Montana as an auditor in Missoula. He then worked as an accounting manager at Mountain States Energy in Butte, where he met his second wife, Patricia Marsh. He married Patricia Marsh on June 20, 1982. From that marriage, he had two stepchildren, Renee Neary of Butte, and April Marsh of Bozeman.

In 1988, Don and Patricia moved to California, where he worked for the state of California as an auditor until his retirement in 2001.

In 2004, he and Patricia moved to the retirement community of Sun City Lincoln Hills where he lived until his death.

He had a lifelong interest in hunting and fishing in Montana, with special trips to the north country to hunt with family on their land.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his four children and two stepchildren and their spouses; and 14 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Luella Erickson; a brother, Russell; and a grandchild, Ryan Burr.

Memorial services will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 280 Oak Tree Lane, Lincoln, Calif., on Jan. 19, at 11 a. m.

Interment will be in Havre at a later date. Donations may be made to the Vitas Innovative Hospice Care in Sacramento or to the Glacier National Park in Montana.