Clayton Jr. Erickson

Clayton was born February 9, 1930 in Fargo, North Dakota and adopted by Alfelt T. and Olga Meyers Erickson. The family moved to Mandan, North Dakota and later moved back to Moorhead, Minnesota, where he grew up and attended school. Clayton was an owner and operator of a truck until entering the military. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he was stationed in Germany serving as a tank operator. Clayton married JoAnne Richard on February 6, 1954. Following his marriage he was employed by Kost Brothers, later forming a partnership with Kost Brothers to raise cattle. The family moved to rural Hawley, Minnesota in 1964, where Clayton resided until his death. Clayton farmed and ranched, bought, sold and traded airplanes, owned and operated several grain trucks, and also owned a crop dusting business. His hobbies included flying and raising horses. Clayton was a founding member of St. Andrews Catholic Church and was also a member of the Hawley Golden Riders. Clayton is survived by seven children, Catherine Greg Peterson of Moorhead, MN, Jean Rick Schultz of Blaine, MN, Warren Pamela of Yankton, SD, Roxanne John Hall of Sartell, MN, Paul Margaret of Hawley, MN, Greg of Minneapolis, MN and Jay Kriste of Bismarck, ND; one brother, Chester; and one sister Joyce; eighteen grandchildren, Emily Nick, Laura, Nicholas, Willy, Amy, Derek, Chase, Kasey, Christopher, Lindsey, Brandon, Carly, Parker, Ben, Nora, Sam, Grace & Andrew. He was preceded in death by one sister, Delores.