Olga Erickson

Longtime Libby educator Olga J. Erickson, 92, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

She was born on Nov. 1, 1912, at Minot, N.D., to Ole and Johanna Wik.

In 1927, the family moved to Kalispell where Olga attended Flathead County High School, graduating as valedictorian of the Class of 1930.

Olga earned a bachelor¹s degree with honors in English and Latin at the University of Montana, received her master¹s in education from the University of Besancon in France in 1963, and was awarded the John Hay Fellowship for study at Yale University school of drama in 1965.

Olga taught English, Literature, Latin and French at Columbia Falls and for many years at Libby, before retiring in 1973.

She also coached speech and debate teams and participated in summer theater productions at the University of Montana.

Olga enjoyed a lifetime of involvement in the communities in which she lived. She loved their summer place on Flathead Lake, and enjoyed reading and sewing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband William, and brother Melvin.

Survivors include her son Alan Erickson, Miami, Fla., daughter Lynda Morford, Scottsdale, Ariz.; brother Odin Wik, Renton, Wash.; sister Hilma Strom, Kalispell, and two grandchildren, Paul Erickson, Austin, Texas, and Amy Morford, Phoenix, Ariz.

Olga is being cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.