Obituary of Barbara Jean Erickson

Barbara Jean (Cronberg) Erickson, age 88, of Edina, MN (formerly of Bloomington, MN), passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024.

Loved ones who will dearly miss Barbara until they meet again include her sons, Tim, Tom (Laura), and Terry; her grandchildren, Brittany (Clare), Adam (Kirsten), and Jenny; her great-grandchildren; as well as extended family and an abundance of friends.

Loved ones who cleared the path for Barbara include her husband of 64 ½ years, John; her parents, Edward and Eda; and her brothers, William, Robert, and Donald.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1701 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431, on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

Visitation will begin at 3:00 pm, with a service at 4:00 pm. Dinner will follow in the church fellowship hall.

The service will be live-streamed at www.stlukesbloomington.org

 Private interment will follow at a later date.

If you are able, the family asks that you wear shades of blue and yellow in memory of Barbara’s love for her Swedish heritage.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to contribute to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus (tcgmc.org), or the ASPCA (aspca.org).

Barbara was born on February 19, 1936, at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. She was the fourth child born to Edward and Eda Cronberg and was baptized at Central Lutheran Church. Barbara had three older brothers, with a 15-year age difference between her and her youngest brother Donald. As the only girl in the family, she was admittedly doted on and well cared for by her parents and older brothers. At a young age, she gained a strong admiration for the military as her brothers bravely fought in the Navy during WWII, and she always awaited their safe return home. Barbara carried her pride and support for military veterans throughout her entire life.

Barbara graduated from South High School in 1953. After graduation, she lived at the family home, working in clerical positions while determining her next life journey. Barbara met John Erickson on July 6, 1956, during a blind date orchestrated by her friend Muriel Anderson. They went downtown for a movie and had a very enjoyable time, leading to many more future dates. Their relationship progressed quickly, and an engagement party was held by Barbara’s mother, Eda Cronberg, and her older brothers on November 4, 1956. After nine months of courtship and engagement, Barbara married John on April 12, 1957, at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN, with Barbara Barrett as Maid of Honor and Charles Benson as Best Man.

Now residing in South Minneapolis, Timothy John, their first child, was born on October 19, 1958. Barbara was a stay-at-home wife and mother, raising her first child and supporting her husband as he began working for the USDA in September 1960. Thomas Edward was born on November 12, 1961, adding to the growing family. Barbara continued her role as a homemaker and mother, watching her sons grow and enjoying her life with John, family, and friends. On January 10, 1967, Terrence Otto was born, completing their family of five. With their South Minneapolis home bursting at the seams, Barbara and John bought a home in Bloomington, MN, in 1968 and started a new life journey in the suburbs. In 1969, they joined St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, where they enjoyed 50-plus years of fellowship, faith, and friendship.

Barbara and John’s life in Bloomington was a busy one, raising three boys. Barbara became a daycare provider in their home while raising her boys and continued until 1973, when Terry started kindergarten. At this point in her life, she began a career working for the Bloomington School District. Her tenure spanned 20-plus years, working in administrative and audio-visual positions at Oak Grove Junior High, and Lincoln, Kennedy, and Jefferson High Schools. During their 52 years in Bloomington, Barbara and John changed their address four times, added a lake place in New London/Spicer, MN, to their list of activities, and purchased a home in Sun City West, AZ, where they spent 17 years escaping the Minnesota winters.

Outside of her work and being the matriarch of her family, Barbara had many interests. She loved music and could often be found humming a beautiful tune. She was a big supporter of the musical arts and encouraged all three of her sons in their musical endeavors, including participation in the Minnesota Boys Choir, high school marching bands, various choirs and show choirs, music lessons, and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. She was a regular attendee of shows and concerts. She followed her faith by participating in and becoming certified with Stephen Ministries. Barbara also had a talent for sewing and quilting, a gift passed down from her mother. In the kitchen, Barbara was a good cook, but she excelled at baking. The holidays were always filled with Swedish baking delicacies, and she was known for gracing a dinner table with up to five different pie flavors. Together with John, the two of them loved to entertain guests. She followed the mottos "there is always room for one more around the table" and "if you leave hungry, it’s your own fault."

Barbara was an avid reader, sometimes reading two books simultaneously. She was a conversationalist with a quick wit and a dry, yet poignant sense of humor. She loved watching movies, especially those in the war/military genre, but she would never turn down a good comedy or drama. Train dominoes, 500, and poker were some of her favorite games to play. She was an enthusiastic Minnesota Vikings fan and would faithfully wear her Vikings jersey, watch all the games, and talk to the TV screen and players as if they could hear her commentary.

Barbara loved to travel, and her fondest travel memories included Alaskan cruises, cruising through the Caribbean and the Panama Canal, and touring Scandinavian countries, visiting relatives and the birthplaces of her family. Traveling to and from Arizona each fall and spring was always an adventure as well. Each trip included new routes to see different cities, visit historical sites, or explore places of interest. Never one to pass up the opportunity to eat out, Barbara loved dining at restaurants, with her favorite being McCormick & Schmick's. Almost every dining experience started with her signature cocktail, a chocolate martini. While she loved experimenting with new foods, her favorite was a medium-rare steak.

Barbara was a proud grandmother and great-grandmother and wanted nothing more than to have her family around her when possible. She was always excited to have the "littles" around, watching them experiment and learn. She loved watching her grandchildren grow into adults and start their own families, cherishing the early memories of baking in the kitchen, shopping trips, weekends at the lake, and handing down family traditions.

In June 2020, Barbara moved from her home at Realife Cooperative in Bloomington, MN, to Sunrise of Edina Assisted Living. She courageously went alone, knowing that John would join her when a larger unit became available. After three months of transition and only having in-person visits for one hour once a week, John joined her in September 2020. While it was a relief to have him with her, it was a difficult adjustment for both during the pandemic with isolation and the loss of independence. In November 2021, John passed away, leaving a gap in her life and heart. She missed having him with her at Sunrise of Edina and tried her best to move forward on a new life journey. While she succeeded in keeping busy with activities and visits from family and friends, she had a continued void in her life. As the years progressed, her mobility decreased, making it hard for her to remain independent and affecting her will to move forward. In January 2024, Barbara transitioned to comfort care hospice, which provided her with daily visits from an additional care team, increased care, and a much-needed level of support.

The family would like to thank Barbara’s care team from Brighton Hospice and her dedicated staff from her four years at Sunrise of Edina. Listing names from both of these facilities only risks leaving someone out, but you know who you are, and you know and felt the bond that was created. You were angels in her life, and the love and respect shared through your care, support, joy, laughter, and unconditional love are still in Barbara’s soul and will not be forgotten by her family.

Barbara loved fiercely and deeply, and she had a very strong faith. She attended church regularly until her mobility no longer allowed her to do so, but that never stopped her from praying for family, wisdom, guidance, and comfort. As a family, we take solace in knowing that she is now at peace, surrounded by light, and reunited with John.