Roger Erickson, 83

Roger K. Erickson, 83, passed away on August 13, 2022, at Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, MN. His loving wife was by his side.

Roger was born on August 22, 1938, in Montevideo, MN. He was the fourth son of eleven children born to Everett and Ruth (Harris) Erickson. The family moved to a farmstead north of Williams in the Rocky Point area in 1947. Roger attended Prosper School, a small country school, and later attended Williams High School.

Roger married the love of his life, Marilyn Gillie, on September 12, 1964. They lived in Bemidji, MN where Roger worked for Culligan Soft Water while Marilyn finished college. They lived in Crookston for two years. Roger worked as a mechanic and Marilyn taught school. In 1966 they moved north of Williams to the place where they made their home.

Roger was a jack of all trades. He did some farming and had his own gravel and construction business. He had his own trucking company and hauled many loads of grain and wood. He could literally do anything - whether it was plumbing, electrical, mechanical, carpentry, woodworking or most anything else.

Roger loved fishing and hunting and spending time with his nephew, Doug, and his buddies at the hunting camp. He enjoyed gardening, playing cards and games, spending time with family and friends and was a very creative, accomplished woodworker. He enjoyed collecting things, especially clocks. He has 600-700 clocks. He repaired them and got them all in working order. He enjoyed showing them to visitors. He was very interested in solar and wind power and set up a system at his home.

He loved kids. He built a train and gave the kids rides in the Potato Day parade and other events. He helped with Back Home Days and Potato Day. He donated the lumber for the shelter in the Williams Park and helped build it, designed and made the sign at Pine Hill Cemetery, and helped Marilyn and others restore the historic Bridges School.

There were no strangers around Roger. He easily made friends with everyone. He had a great sense of humor, was very witty, had an infectious laugh and was fun to hang out with. He always went out of his way to help people. We are sure that everyone who ever met Roger has stories to tell.

Marilyn and Roger retired in 2000 and were fortunate to be able to spend many winters in Arizona, Texas and Florida. They also traveled to many of the other states including two trips to Alaska and a cruise.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Larry, LaMont, Jim, Barry and Dan.

Left to cherish Roger’s memory are his wife, Marilyn; brothers Richard (Bonnie), David (Louise) and Mark; sisters Sandra Dickey and Judy (Jerry) Peterson. He is also survived by brother-in-law Kenneth (Ferol) Gillie, sisters-in-law Jean Castle, Alice Gillie and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. He will be missed by many.

Roger’s Celebration of Life was held on August 22, 2022, at the Williams Community Church. Burial is in Pine Hill Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Helgeson Funeral Chapels.