Helen E. Erickson

Helen Elva Erickson, age 103 5/6^th years, of Mankato and formerly of Rapidan, died Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at Laurels Peak in Mankato.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Calvary Lutheran Church, Rapidan with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Calvary Lutheran Cemetery in Rapidan. Please share a memory of Helen with her family at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Helen was born April 27, 1915 in Mankato to James and Florence (Miller) Mosher in Eagle Lake. She graduated from Mankato High School in 1932 and Mankato Teachers College in 1934 and taught in a one room country school in Eagle Lake and was a nurse’s aide at Hillcrest Nursing Home. On October 16, 1937, she married Arnold Erickson in Mankato, whom she met at a dance.  Helen and Arnold raised their family near the Rapidan Dam and were happily married 62 years.  Helen was an advocate of lifelong learning and had no time to be bored.  She loved to research family history back to kings and queens, daily 3 + mile walks, dancing anytime music was played, gardening, sewing, crocheting, playing horseshoes, traveling and wintering in Arizona.  Helen enjoyed listening to everyone’s life story, she was always full of energy after her daily walks, enjoyed socializing, dancing, and was always the last one to leave a party.

Helen is survived by her five children and spouses, Carol and Robert Schneiderhan of Mankato, Robert and Ann Erickson of Belle Plaine, Nancy Mathews of Eyota, Gene and Janice Erickson of Nokomis, FL, and Terry and Marilyn “Bunny” Erickson of Rapidan; brother, Clayton “Bud” Mosher of St. Peter; thirteen grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Erickson; parents; sister, Evelyn; infant daughter, Colleen; son-in-law, Darwin Mathews; granddaughter, Robyn Erickson; and great-granddaughter, Hannah Gamble.