Robert John Erickson, Sr. was born September 12, 1930 in rural Sandstone, Minn., to Algot and Marian ( Junck) Erickson.

He attended the Freisland Elementary School and graduated from Sandstone High School in 1948. He worked for his father for a few months prior to his employment at the Maple Island Creamery in Rush City, Minn.

On April 23, 1949, Bob was united in marriage to Ione Scofield and they made their home in Rush City. On March 1, 1951, he purchased a milk can route and hauled milk until March of 1959. At the same time, he bought a farm located east of Rock Creek, Minn. He farmed and hauled milk until 1959, when he bought his first semi-tractor and hauled carton milk for Maple Island Creamery. 

Bob and Ione bought several more semis and ran the business together, the main haul being to California with turkey products. Along with the semi business, they started a Sport Shoppe in 1970 and sold snowmobiles and motorcycles until January of 1977. At that time they sold that portion of the business and continued with the trucking until the time of their retirement in 1993.

Bob's interests included cycling and street rods. He served on the Rush City School Board for a period of nine years, was a charter member of the Rush City Lions Club International and in 1992 was chosen Rush City Chamber of Commerce Community Service recipient. He attended First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Florida, and St. John's Lutheran Church in Rush City. He loved the Lord and always attended Bible Studies to learn more about Him. Bob Erickson was well respected in the community and loved by all who knew him.

Bob went home to be with the Lord on September 6, 2007 at the Golden Living Center in Rush City. He was 76 years of age. He is survived by his wife, Ione; children: Joan (Benjamin) Nelson of Lake Villa, Ill., Bob, Jr (Deb) Erickson of Lino Lakes, Minn., Dallas (Debi) Erickson of Rush City, Stephanie Erickson of Blaine, Minn., Scott (Faye) Erickson of Rush City; grandchildren:  Shane (Dana) Erickson, Cori (Jeremy) Schroeder, Eric (Amy) Nelson, Daniel (Lea) Nelson, Timothy (Katie) Nelson, Meredith (Skip) Borghi, Jerome Erickson, Joshua Erickson, Holly (Michael) Skaj, Brandi Erickson; great-grandchildren: Kaylee, Kole, Kasey, Madison, Kaden, Hanna, Hayden, Byren, Jayley, Aidan, Alexis, Jeremiah, Andrea and Aubrey; brother: Bill (Betty) Erickson of Pine City, Minn.; sisters: Catherine (Gene) Kelch of Arizona, Marian Gustafson of Redwood Falls, Minn.; sister-in-law: Delores Erickson of Forest Lake, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Algot and Marian Erickson, and his brother, Chuck Erickson.

The Erickson family wishes to publicly thank the staff of the Golden Living Center for their loving, compassionate care of Bob during his last days on this earth.

Funeral services were celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, September 10, 2007 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rush City with the Reverend John Beck officiating. Music was provided by organist Dick Scheele and soloist Diane Volk. Honorary casket bearers included Daniel Nelson and Timothy Nelson and the Rush City Lion's Club. Active casket bearers included Shane Erickson, Jerome Erickson, Joshua Erickson, Eric Nelson, Ted Truckenbrod, and Greg Truckenbrod with the interment in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery west of Rush City. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service, Olson Chapel, Rush City, Minnesota; Funeralandcremationservice.com.

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