Audrey M Erickson Obituary (1927 - 2020)

Audrey Marie Erickson, age 93, Menomonie, died Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at The Neighbors of Dunn County, Menomonie. She fell and broke her hip and was not strong enough to recover from surgery. Audrey, like her mother, also developed dementia late in life. She was born July 18, 1927, the daughter of Leon C. and Minnie Marie (Sorenson) Erickson. She was born at home in “Dog Town”, just across the Red Cedar River on Menomonie’s Southwest side, where she lived with her family until age 4. In 1931, Leon and Minnie purchased 90 acres of farmland 3 miles outside of Menomonie from the Ford family for $1,000. and lived in the original 1888 one-room cabin there during the height of the Great Depression. Leon later built two additions to the cabin, including a second story. Audrey lived on the farm with her parents for the rest of her life except for a year or two when away at her first teaching assignment. That farm was very important to her and was her favorite place to be. Audrey loved to hear the wind blowing through the big white pine trees outside of her bedroom window and listen to all the birds sing. She received many requests over the years from folks wanting to buy the farm from her, and her brother, Carl, but always turned them down. They wanted to keep the farm together as long as possible. Audrey graduated from Menomonie High School in 1944 at age 17, then attended Dunn County Normal Teacher’s College. Audrey continued her post-secondary education, first, at the Wisconsin State College-Eau Claire, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education (Kindergarten-Primary Grades) in 1955. In 1967, Audrey earned her Master of Science in Education degree from Wisconsin State University- Eau Claire. Her first teaching position was at the Nippersink One-room School in rural Elmwood, where she taught children in grades 1-8. She boarded with a local Elmwood couple, Charlie and Hilda Lamson, who would become lifelong friends of the family. Shortly after, Audrey obtained an elementary teaching position with the Menomonie School District. She spent the rest of her teaching career there and was assigned her first teaching position at Coddington Elementary School, where she taught the longest amount of time, and finished her career at River Heights Elementary School. Audrey taught 1st or 2nd grades and sometimes split classes of 1st and 2nd grades together. She let her nieces and nephews “help” grade papers for her classes during Christmas break; at least we thought we were helping. Audrey inspired her nephew, Jeff, to pursue a master’s degree in Education for the Deaf & Hearing Impaired, and her niece, Debbie, to pursue a career in education as a High School Counselor and she often asked about school. Audrey loved teaching and her family and totally dedicated herself to both. She never married or had children of her own, so her students were treated like her “children”. It was routine for her to stay up late into the night, night after night, grading papers, creating tests and writing out detailed lesson plans. Leon would scold her and tell her she needed to get to bed! Over the years, parents stopped and frequently told her brother, Carl, how much their children loved having Miss Erickson and how happy they were with how she taught their children. Former students approached Audrey well into her 80s to thank her and ask if she remembered them. Audrey taught over 35 years until she retired early in 1979 so she could stay home and take care of her mother, avoiding the nursing home until the very end. Leon helped as much as he could until he developed cancer. Leon died in December 1980 and Minnie in November 1981. After her parents passed away, Audrey became a Certified Nursing Assistant and spent about 10 years as a C.N.A. at the American Lutheran Home, Menomonie, until retiring permanently. She worked primarily the 11 pm to 7 am night shift because that’s where the greatest staffing need was. After retiring, she became a permanent night owl, staying up reading and doing genealogical research so she could learn more about her family. After years of research, she was thrilled to locate her father’s extended family in Sweden. A highlight was when the Swedish relatives came to visit Audrey and other family members. Audrey’s only regret was that she found them after Leon had already passed away. Audrey was a life long member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Her faith was always extremely important to her and she strongly supported her church, as did her parents. Audrey was also a dedicated volunteer at The Dunn County Historical Society, The American Lutheran Home, Bread For The World, and Stepping Stones Food Pantry. Audrey would quietly and efficiently do whatever was needed in her volunteer work. She especially enjoyed her work for the Dunn County Historical Society and served on their Board of Directors. Many old farm items from her family farm were donated to the Historical Society in her parents’ memory. Audrey was genuinely shocked when she was named “Dunn County Historical Society 1999 Volunteer of the Year.” Her passion for reading and learning have been passed down through the family. You could always have an interesting conversation with her about anything. Audrey’s retirement days were spent listening to Wisconsin Public Radio and wanting to talk about current events, the latest trends, Menomonie history, and always the newest information folks had about beloved family and friends. Because of her love for conversation, we don’t know if she ever ate a hot meal or drank a hot cup of her favorite green tea or Postum. She will be greatly missed by her nieces, nephews and other family members who all believe her life was too short. We will count the days until we can all be together again. Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Minnie, infant sister, Idell, grandparents, brother Carl, sister-in law-Dolores, brother Lyle, Lyle and Bernice’s infant twin sons Dwight and Dwayne, as well numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her five nieces and nephews, Jeff Erickson, Menomonie, Dale (Pastor Mary) Menomonie, Debbie (Jonathan) Stone, Chippewa Falls, Cindy (Erickson) Hamm (Kevin), Scandinavia, WI, and Julie(Erickson) Wirl (Jerry), Oshkosh, WI, sister-in-law Bernice Erickson, Appleton, WI, 9 great-nieces and great-nephews: Corinna (Will) Neeb, Wendy (John) Vanatta, Christopher (Jamie) Wirl, Darcy (Jon) Syverson, Kelly (Jon) Miltimore, Deanna (Ryan) Rand, Mathew Wirl, Daniel (Jenny) Wirl, and Kimberly (Brent) Gesler, in addition to 11 great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews, cousins and friends. Due to the health pandemic, there will be private graveside services only at Christ Lutheran/Halvorson Cemetery, Menomonie, with burial immediately following, on August 25, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Sarah Miller, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, will be officiating. For safety of all, please wear a mask at the service. And because of these circumstances, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, The Dunn County Historical Society or The Stepping Stones of Dunn County Food Pantry, all of Menomonie, or Wisconsin Public Radio. All of these were near and dear to Audrey’s big heart. Olson’s Funeral Home, Menomonie, is helping the family with arrangements. On-line condolences/memories may be shared @ www.olsonfuneral.com. Audrey’s service will also be live-streamed and archived on the Olson Funeral Home Facebook page.