Robert "Bob" Roy Erickson

Robert "Bob" R. Erickson passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at his home in Rush City at the age of 85.

Bob was born September 13, 1934 to Cliff and Wynone Erickson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended schools in the Minneapolis area until 1950 when he relocated to New Jersey. In 1952, Bob graduated from high school in Bernardsville, New Jersey and promptly joined the U.S. Navy, training for hospital corps school at Great Lakes Naval Base. Bob met his wife Ruby Hertenstein at this school and the couple started their military life together at Bremerton, Washington U.S. Naval Hospital.

Bob and Ruby were married while in the military and son Tom was born in 1954 in a U.S. Naval hospital. After their discharge from the military, Bob and family moved back to Minnesota and Bob attended the University of Minnesota for 2 years. Next son Jeff was born in 1957, followed by his daughters Wendy in 1966 and Virginia "Ginger" in 1967. He worked at Taystee Bread Company, Minneapolis Public Library and found his home with the Minneapolis Fire Department for 23 years. Upon his retirement from firefighting, Bob and Ruby moved to New Jersey to work at Matheny School/Hospital for several years. In 1983, they purchased a home on East Rush Lake in Shorewood Park.

Bob loved to work with wood and enjoyed making handcrafted items for family and friends. He chose to work with some local carpenter/tradesmen and was often seen roofing, siding and building structures in the Rush City area. If you were looking for Bob during the day you would probably find him on the lake fishing, no matter the season. Many friends and family enjoyed a dinner of filleted fish courtesy of Bob. Bob was an active member at First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City and the Rush City Lions Club for 20 years. Bob enjoyed children and regularly volunteered to delight young people at the Rush City Elementary School with his "hands on learning" stories. In 2008, Bob and Ruby were awarded the "Rush City Community Service Award" for all of their volunteerism and sacrificial giving to the community.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Ruby Erickson of Rush City; children: Tom (Carla) Erickson of Carmel, Indiana, Jeff (Jill) Erickson of Rush City, Wendy (Ron) Scott of East Bethel; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; many other relatives and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Clifford and Wynone Erickson; daughter Virginia "Ginger" Erickson.

Pastor Nathan Baker-Trinity will officiate at funeral services for Bob: 2 PM; Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City. A time of visitation is planned from 5-8 PM; Friday, August 14, 2020 at the Olson Funeral Chapel in Rush City and also one hour prior to the service at the church. The interment with Military Honors will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

The family kindly requests no cut flowers to be delivered to the chapel or church due to severe fragrance sensitivity. Please know potted plants are an acceptable alternative. Memorials may be directed to the Rush City Food Shelf in Bob's memory.

Per the Department of Health, indoor capacity for the service is limited to 100 people and masks are required. The service will be broadcast to the church parking lot via an FM transmitter beginning at 2 PM.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City, Olson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCrematonService.com