Donald Erickson

Donald A. Erickson
Donald A. Erickson, 86, Perham, MN, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at Bethany Homes, Fargo, ND. The Funeral will be Monday, at 2:00 PM at Faith Lutheran Church, Dwight, ND, with Rev. Gordon Lee officiating. Viewing will be one hour before the service at the church. Interment will be at Faith Lutheran Cemetery, Dwight. Vertin-Munson Funeral home, Wahpeton is in charge of arrangements.
Donald Alfred Erickson was born on July 20, 1929 in Wahpeton, ND to Alfred and Pearl (Fosmark) Erickson. He attended school in Dwight, ND. In 1938 he moved with his family to Wahpeton and graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1947. Donald then attended the North Dakota State College of Science, graduating in Architectural Drafting and Estimating. Upon graduation, he was employed with Overgaard Construction, Wahpeton.
Donald enlisted in the United States Air Force in January of 1951. He served in New Hampshire, Korea and Texas in air installations as a senior woodworker. On October 11, 1954 he received an honorable discharge at Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, TX.
In January 1955, he was employed by North Texas Steel in Fort Worth as a draftsman, later moving to estimating and sales. Late in 1965 he moved to California to take a sales position with Central Industrial Engineering in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Donald retired from Central Industrial as President and CEO. In 1990 he purchased his retirement home on Otter Tail Lake, MN where he resided until May 2012 when he moved to Perham, MN.
Donald was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church, Dwight, ND, Hafner-Miller-Ross American Legion Post No. 20 and the Woody Keeble VFW Post No. 4324.
He is survived by his son, Donald Jr., Livingston, TX; his daughter, Christy Smith, Menomonie, WI; three grandchildren, Jason Smith, Brooklyn, NY; Julia (Nick) Colwell, Davenport, IA; and Rachel Smith, Menomonie, WI; his sister, Lois Ann (Ken) Randall, Rochester, MN; his brothers, Roy (Karan) Erickson, Hemet, CA and John (Cindy) Erickson, Carmichael, CA; along with a wonderful group of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, David Michael Erickson and his sister, Darline Singbeil.