Marie Mae Erickson, 83, passed away at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji, MN on August 15, 2007.

Funeral services will be held at 1 PM on Sunday, August 19, 2007 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM on Saturday, August 18, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a prayer service at 7 PM. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Marie was born in Sanders Township (Pennington County) on May 12, 1924 to Enoch and Cora (Amble) Swanson. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1942. On November 3, 1945 she was united in marriage to Randall Julian Erickson and they made their home in Thief River Falls. Marie was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Thief River on August 26, 1946. She spent several years working at bakeries in Thief River Falls including Jungs Quality Bakery, Falls Bakery and Schusters. Marie then managed the Valley Dairy Store until her retirement. A devoted member of Redeemer Lutheran Church for many years, Marie found faith to be extraordinarily valuable and passed this onto her family and future generations.

Marie had a gift for cooking and shared her wonderful treats, especially her lefsa and delicious baked goods, with everyone. She loved chronicling both world events and the lives of her beloved family. On many afternoons and late into the evenings she could be found playing her favorite card game Hand and Foot and Smear with family and friends. She also kept busy by working on her many sewing projects, quilting with her church ladies and in the kitchen of Redeemer. Marie will be remembered as a kind and loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She was a positive and strong person, without complaint, who lived out her faith. Marie will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Marie is survived by her children, Bill (Marianne) Erickson of Roseau, Vicky Hellquist of Bemidji; 4 grandchildren, Andrea (Ryan) Ohnstad of Bemidji, Todd (Jill) Erickson) of Badger, Emily Erickson of Bemidji, and Scott Hellquist of Wisconsin.

She is preceded in death by her husband Randall; brother Harold Swanson, sister and brother-in-law Pearl & Alvin Wold.