Ruby Erickson, 90, of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on peacefully on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls, MN with her loving family by her side.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM with the funeral service to celebrate Ruby’s life at Noon on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Strathcona, MN.

Ruby Violet Bratland, the youngest of ten children born to Oscar and Mabel (Ingberg) Bratland in a small log house on a farm 1 ½ miles southwest of Strathcona on May 12, 1936. She shared her birthdate with a brother 12 years older and a sister 2 years older. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Gustav Adolf Church. She attended 6 years of country school, 2 years in Strathcona and graduated from Greenbush High School in 1955.

When not in school she would ride bike with a neighbor girl, classmate and very close friend, Darlene Jevne. They would walk to town, carry the guitar and sing for Luther League. Her dad would also take them ice skating on the outside rink in the winter. She and her brother Jim sang on the Farmer’s Union Hour on KTRF. Times were tough but come Sunday it was to get ready for church and the folks took them in the Model A Ford. After graduation she went to Fosston and worked for her uncle who had a café.

When returning home, she married Kenneth Edward Erickson and to this union two daughters were born. They bought the Erickson home place and started their new life together with a farming venture. They had milk cows and other livestock besides grain farming. She spent many long hours on the “John Deere” and could do most anything. In the fall she worked in potato harvest at Stephen. On September 13, 1968 she went to work at Arctic Enterprises as a Welder, working there until June 12, 1992. She was a hard worker with anything that she did both on the job and on the farm.

She moved to her lake home at Detroit Lakes. She went to work at the Shooting Star Casino from 1992-2000 for 8 years. She met and later married Dennis LeRoy Erickson and they made their home on Little Detroit Lakes. They did some traveling and then she went to work at the new Walmart Super Center before they opened the store. She worked there for 2 ½ years. They moved back to Thief River Falls, so she’d be closer to her grandchildren. She went to work at McDonalds 9 ½ years and Digi-Key for 7 years. Ruby retired to provide care for her sister who had a stroke. She always had time to help a friend or neighbor and give them a ride for an appointment.

She always had a nice yard. She had a garden and canned and prepared frozen produce in the fall. She made the best homemade bread, potato salad, and beet pickles. She loved camping, snowmobiling, fishing, dancing and country music. She loved her extended family. They had lots of holidays and good times together. She was also a member of the Eagles Auxiliary and lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary.

Ruby got a little dog “Muffin” she was always by her side. She would go with her to the nursing home where they all loved her. February 12, 2017 was a sad day as Muffin passed away.

Ruby is survived by two daughters, Kathy (Gary) Regimbal, Roseau, MN and Renay (Nathan) Anderson, Thief River Falls, MN; six step-children, Susan (Dick) Bastyr, LaCrosse, WI, Judy (Mark) Anderson, Hawley, MN, Deb (Don) Smith, Cheyenne, WY, Nan (Jack) Kirkwood, Lake Park, MN, Jerry (Mona) Erickson, Hitterdahl, MN and Russell Erickson, Hawley, MN; grandchildren, Kerry Jon Moose, Kandy (Jake) Efta, Kasey Moose, Tyler Anderson, Katie Anderson, Nathan Bylander, Cole Bylander; great-grandchild, Betty Ruby Efta, Glenna Ray Efta, and twins Blake and Brent, and Ryker; numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brothers, Ben, Obert, Oscar Jr., Ray, twins Walter and Warren, and James; sister, Pearl Lybeck and Myrtle Sterner.