Obituary of Ronald Ellis Erickson

Ronald Ellis Erickson, 84, has passed away on May 10th after battling health problems.   Ron was raised in the Annandale area where he schooled (Annandale High School 1954) in the winter and farmed in the summer – instilling in Ron an ethic for the land and lifelong quest to read and learn. 

After serving in the U.S, Army’s Presidential Honor Guard from 1956-58, Ron earned a wildlife biology degree from the University of Minnesota and a Masters of Wildlife and Fisheries degree from South Dakota State University.   Along the way, Ron married LeRae Loken on September 6^th, 1958, and they had Terri, Ladd and Bret – all of whom survive him.

Ron began his professional career as biologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, but in 1966 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hired Ron to serve in many capacities - from refuge and watershed management, the White House’s Scientific Assessment and Strategy Team, to ultimately being in charge of mapping and digitizing all the wetlands in eight states for the National Wetland Inventory.

Ron, his brothers, and a brother-in-law bought 100 acres of woods and wetlands near Pine River, Minnesota, where they built a rugged cabin that served them and their families with years of fishing and hunting adventures. 

When Ron retired in 1994 the northern woods called him to rural Walker, Minnesota, where he spent his retirement years crafting logs and boards out of his woods for the house of his dream.  The 80 acres he built it on showed that from boyhood through fatherhood, from young veteran to learned professional, there was never a separation in Ron from the land. 

Ron is survived by his 3 children; Terri Shepherd, Ladd Erickson and Bret Erickson, three granddaughters; Codi (Justin), Casie, and Kelsey and 3 great grandchildren; Brooklyn, Wyatt and Maxley.  Also surviving Ron is brother Glenn (Iona) and several nieces and nephews. 

Ron will be buried by an honor guard and family service on August 19^th at 10AM at the Ft. Snelling Veteran’s Cemetery.