Helen Erickson

Helen A. Erickson, 80, of Moorhead, MN, died Saturday August 3, 2013 at Lake Mills Care Center, Lake Mills, Iowa.

Helen Ann Erickson was born March 15, 1933 in Pelican Rapids, MN to Newell and Anna Resset Crow.
She grew up in Pelican Rapids, graduating from Pelican Rapids High School in 1951. She earned a B.S. from Concordia College in Moorhead in 1955 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Library Science. She taught 3rd grade at Sharp Elementary School from 1955 to 1964. She also worked for the Moorhead Park District during the summers. She married Merlen Erickson on December 29, 1963 and stopped teaching to be a fulltime mother to daughters Ann 1965 and Ruth 1966. When her daughters were in school, she returned to teaching in District #152 as a substitute teacher and eventually worked in the Washington Elementary library. She retired from Washington Elementary in 1995.

Helen was an active volunteer at her church, Trinity Lutheran, for many years. She sang in the choir, was president of her congregation TLCW and served on numerous committees over the years. Helen had an avid love for animals; when she would travel with Merlen invariably there would be pictures of a dog or cat she had met along the way. She always had pet treats on hand for those walking by the house on Halloween night. In recent days she enjoyed visits from her grand-dog, Emily. She loved to watch Minnesota sports, especially the Twins, Timberwolves and Vikings. Helen will be remembered for her warm smile, her love of chocolate, word puzzles, solitaire, reading and her devotion to her family.

Preceding Helen in death were her husband of 46 years, Merlen, her father, Newell S. Crow, her mother, Anna Resset Crow Solum, her brother, Robert Solum, her sister, Gwen Selseth and her brother-in-law, Pete Selseth.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Ann Erickson Kyle Kositzky, Moorhead, MN; Ruth David Melby, Forest City, IA,; grandsons Mark and Daniel Melby, brother Allan Pat Solum, Paynesville, MN and sister-in-law Donna Solum, Hawley, MN.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Churches United for the Homeless, the Humane Society, Trinity Lost and Found Ministry and the Haiti Medical/Humanitarian Mission trip funds through Trinity Lutheran Church.

Memorial Gathering: Tuesday, August 6, 2013, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

Memorial Service: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.

Interment: Ringsaker Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, MN.