Donna Erickson, 88, of Wadena, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2007, at her home, Inga's Place, in rural Wadena.
She was born March 11, 1919, to Ray and Pearl (Higgins) Currie in Glasston, N.D. When she was 2, her family moved to Wadena. Her father left the family when she was 7. She referred to her high school days as hard-working and fun. She loved to recount her days of hitchhiking to Perham, Staples and Park Rapids in her leather jacket, high leather boots and jodifers, and the time she climbed the old Wadena water tower on a dare. She was also a cheerleader for all sports from her sophomore year on and was especially proud that her senior class of 1936 won the state basketball tournament. She also played on the girls basketball team. She worked at the Barrel (root beer stand), Hammergrens Drug Store (soda fountain), and Penneys. In later years she worked at Vollies dress shop and the S&L department store.
On June 29, 1941, she married Floyd Willard Erickson in Sisseton, S.D. Shortly after their marriage, Floyd was drafted into World War II. She followed him to Sheppards Field in Texas and then to Travis Air Base in California. After the war they made their home in Wadena. She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. Floyd passed away in November 1991. That year they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
She loved to listen to the Twins, dance and play cards. She thoroughly enjoyed her family and grandchildren. She was a member of the VFW Women's Auxiliary. She will be missed by all of her family.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 28, in the First Congregational United Church of Christ with Pastors Larry Hager and Orville Sauter officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Scott, Shawn, Sara, Heather, Chris, Erik, Nicole, Steff, Stacy, Casey and Katey. It was Floyd and Donna's request that their ashes be combined and the interment be near the memorial area at the Wadena Cemetery. The Johnson Memorial Home of Wadena is in charge of the arrangements.
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Survivors include her children; John (Mary) Erickson of Wadena, Jill (Bill) Schaefer of Ottertail, Jodi (Mark) Miksche of Long Prairie and Jeri (Don) Scheller of Wadena; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Al and Pearl Castro; husband, Floyd; brother, Ross Currie; and sister, Phyllis Miller.
