Obituary of Edgar Paul Erickson

Edgar Paul Erickson of Eagan, MN died peacefully at Southview Acres Health Care Center, West St. Paul, MN on Monday, January 8, 2024 at the age of 97.

Born June 9, 1926 in Princeton, MN to Henry and Anne (Paul) Erickson, he was the grandson of Swedish immigrants who homesteaded in Bradford Township, Isanti County, MN in the late 1800's. He graduated from Cambridge High School, Cambridge, MN in 1944, then attended St. Thomas Academy in St. Paul, MN from July 1944 to June 1945 as part of the Navy V-12 Unit with several of his classmates and friends. At the end of WWII, he received his honorable discharge, and then enrolled at the University of Minnesota to pursue a degree in Communications. He married Linnea Dale Hamlin of Pine City, MN on September 10, 1949. He spent one season working the Great Lakes on the iron ore boats out of Duluth, then was hired by McGraw-Hill Publishing in their Minneapolis location. As a result of promotions, he and the family went to Chicago, then St. Louis, and then to the New York City corporate office in Manhattan where he became the Editor-in-Chief of the McGraw-Hill business journal, Dodge Reports, which is still being published today. In 1967, he decided to bring the family home to Minnesota and settled in Edina where he joined Sun Newspapers. He left Sun Newspapers and became a founding member of US Suburban Press located in Edina, MN which was eventually sold. He was then hired by his good friend and business partner Bill Drake (founder of Control Data Corp. and Cray Research) to become the VP of Communications of DataCard Corp. located in Minnetonka, MN.

Ed was actively involved in local and state politics, having been a registered lobbyist and consultant to the Minnesota state legislature on behalf of small businesses, serving as a representative for the MN Coalition on Small Business at the White House during President Carter's term, and as a mentor and advisor to the local Minnesota small business community. He was a long-time member of Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN serving as its President in 1983, and organizing and coordinating a reciprocal golf tour with members of The Old Course at St. Andrews in England to celebrate the 50th anniversary of legendary golfer Bobbie Jones’ two victories that were part of his historic golf Grand Slam achieved at each course (The Open and U.S Open). Ed also served as a committee director for the City of Edina, MN's 100th Anniversary "Edinamite" celebration in 1988. Ed was the last survivor of the Cambridge High School class of 1944 and maintained close ties with his classmates. He eventually organized class reunions in Cambridge until they reached their 70th celebration, then had to stop when most of his class were no longer able to travel. He was dedicated to his wife Linnea of 74 years, his 3 sons and his entire family. He enjoyed working on the daily crossword puzzles with Linnea and going to the local casino. He loved hunting and fishing with his boys and other family members and was an avid golfer (scoring 5 lifetime holes in one!).

Ed is survived by his wife, Linnea; sons Jon Erickson (Cindy) of Prior Lake, Reid Erickson (Connie) of N.Tazwell, VA, Ross Erickson of Eagan, MN, sister Lucille Bucher (David), Bemidji, MN, nieces and nephews Pamela Steinkraus (Jensen) of Rogers, MN, Michael (Kimberly) Jensen of Princeton, MN, Kyle Bucher of Lebanon, IN, Paige Nelson (Bucher) of Grand Forks, ND, and a large number of grand/great-grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anne Erickson, brother Arnold Erickson and his wife Betty Jane, and sister Betty Anne Jensen and her husband Glenn.