Obituary: Leonard Arthur Erickson

BUTTE — Leonard Arthur Erickson lived a long life during a remarkable time. He was 97 years old when he passed away Dec. 17, 2016, at The Springs Care Center in Butte. 

He was born April 20, 1919, to Charles and Edna Erickson in Butte and graduated from Butte High School in 1937. His family owned and operated a number of food-associated businesses including a lunch counter that was across the street from the Hennessey 

building. He attended Montana Tech for two years. During that time, he also worked at the Food Emporium and in 1941 took over as manager.  

However, he was drafted by the U.S. Army in that same year. After a one-year stint in the armored tank division at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he applied to flight school in the Air Force and in 1942 was accepted and received navigation education in Sacramento, California. 

In 1943, he was sent to Rattleton, England to navigate B-17 bombers. He was assigned to the 8th Division. 

He flew 25 bombing missions over Germany and his last assignment in the B-17 was participation in the infamous D-Day invasion.

He was then assigned to navigate the Mosquito reconnaissance unarmed plane. He flew 56 recon missions over Berlin and to other strategic enemy locations. He returned to Butte in 1945 after the completion of two tours of duty. 

While stationed in England, he met Mona Lomax at Wattam, England, and he later doggedly convinced her to leave England and move to Butte to marry him. They were married at the Congregational Park Church on Floral Avenue June 2, 1946. They were married for 65 years. 

After the war, Len started a career in the grocery business. He owned and operated the Courthouse Grocery uptown for three years, then bought a building on Utah Street and began Len’s Grocery in 1948, where he worked very hard for 32 years. He notably worked a stretch of seven years without a day off. The years between 1948 and 1980 were years when the neighborhood grocery store was an essential part of the community. Len was remembered for his assistance when Butte hit hard times.

He sold Len’s in 1980 and enjoyed a wonderful retirement of 30 years until health issues arose. He moved to The Springs Care Center in 2011, along with Mona, who passed away in December of 2011.

He enjoyed family, fishing, skiing, pheasant hunting, golf, bridge and his monthly poker game. He enjoyed a walleye fishing trip to Canada when he was 89. 

During their retirement, he and Mona enjoyed traveling. Among the places they visited were Hawaii, Finland, England, western Europe and the Panama Canal. He enjoyed downhill skiing and had a close-knit group of friends that skied for three or four days a week for many years. He especially enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play various sports. 

Leonard was in the Air Force Reserve for 30 years and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was recently honored in Butte by Malmstrom Air Base personnel for his outstanding service. He was the longest-tenured member of the Butte Country Club for a remarkable 64 years. He was a member of the Exchange Club, where he met many of his life-long friends. He also was a long-term member of Rotary Club and a strong supporter of PBS broadcasting. He was an active member and supporter of St John’s Episcopal Church for 52 years and cherished the many friendships made in faith there. 

Len is survived by his son, Max (Cindy) of Havre, and his daughters, Leslie (Bob) Whalen of Billings and Laurel (Bill) Egan, who reside in Butte. 

He also leaves eight grandchildren, Ben (Shay) Erickson of Bozeman and Michael Erickson of Havre, Amy (Ryan) Helgeson of Billings; Matt (Nicole) Whalen of Phoenix, Arizona; Katie Whalen of Billings; Ryan (April) Egan of Butte; Haley (Ryan) Davis of Butte; and Allison Egan of Billings. He also has seven great-grandchildren.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff of Highlands Hospice and to The Springs Care Center for their loving care in his final years.

Len leaves a legacy of honesty, ethics and hard work. As part of the Greatest Generation, he will be greatly missed by his family and those who knew him.

Services will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 15 N. Idaho St., at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Memorials to donor’s choice.