Marilyn Erickson

Marilyn Erickson

89, of Helena

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Marilyn Phyllis (Twedt) Erickson, 89, began her last great adventure on Sept. 11, 2015. Marilyn, the oldest of five siblings, was born on February 15, 1926, on her mother’s family homestead in Spink, S.D., arriving just five minutes before her twin sister Marian. 

Marilyn and Marian attended elementary school at Brule Creek to which a “short cut” decreased the distance of their walk to school to “only two and a half miles.”  While growing up, the twins worked at the family’s Spink General Store and on the farm before leaving home to attend the Norwegian high school, Augustana Academy in Canton, S.D. Marilyn met her future husband, Sheridan Erickson, there when the Academy admitted a few Swedish Lutherans due to insufficient Norwegian student enrollment. Marilyn and Sheridan were married on Sept. 8, 1948.  After graduating from Iowa State University in 1949, Marilyn taught home economics for almost a decade, during which time she gave birth to the first three of her six sons: Bruce Leland (1951) in Redwood Falls, Minn., Scott Lynn (1953) and Todd Sheridan (1957) in Sioux City, Iowa. Marilyn and Sheridan moved their young family to St. Paul, Minn., in 1958 where Sheridan attended Luther Seminary, and Jay Marcus (1960) was born. Sheridan was ordained in 1961 and accepted his first pastoral call to Reserve, (near Plentywood) where the four boys were joined by two more brothers, Dale John (1962) and Reid Lincoln (1964).

Following Sheridan’s ministry in rural eastern Montana, Sheridan and Marilyn served Lutheran congregations in Casper, Wyo., Lewistown, Libby and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They retired to Helena in 1990.

Marilyn’s 51 years of marriage to Sheridan was a continuous adventure. While raising their gang of boys Marilyn pursued many interests, served her community and enjoyed life with her family through camping in Canada and Yellowstone Park, hiking, family trips to watch Scott compete at the Sturgis, S.D. motorcycle rally, cross country motorcycle journeys, annual summer visits to the Spink, S.D. family farm, as well as international travel. 

Marilyn was known for her extraordinary Christmas letters, adventurous spirit and delightful wit. She had an open heart and home for her family and friends, always ready with homemade oatmeal cookies, granola, bread and cinnamon rolls.  

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Sheridan (2000) and son Bruce (1998). She is survived by Bruce’s wife, Pam (Cascade) and their children Lib (Brad), Christopher (Annie) and Cori (James); Scott and his daughters Susan and Emma; Todd and his wife Renee (Kalispell) and their son, Reece; Jay and his wife Ann (Helena) and their children Sam and Zoe; Dale (Fargo, Minn.) and Reid and his wife Peggy (Livingston) and their son Gibson. Marilyn’s siblings, Marian, Lynn, Carter and Nancy also survive her.

A memorial service will be held on Oct. 17, 2015, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1000 Helena Ave., Helena, MT 59601. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, or Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, 603 S. Main St., Kalispell, MT 59901.  Interment will follow in the Spring of 2016 in Vermillion, S.D.