Delbert "Bud" Erickson

Delbert Warren 'Bud' Erickson was born September 4, 1923 to Erick and Esther (Lundberg) Erickson on the farm in Ellsborough Township east of Ruthton, Minnesota. He was baptized at Sillerud Lutheran Church of rural Balaton, Minnesota and later was confirmed in the Lutheran church. He grew up on the family farm and attended District 79 country school. He graduated from Ruthton High School in 1940. After graduation he began farming with his father. On April 20, 1952 Bud married Lorraine Powell at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. Their union was blessed with four children and 36 years of life together. The couple farmed and raised their family east of Ruthton. Lorraine died on January 13, 1989. Bud continued to live on the farm but liked wintering south in Texas and Arizona. He married Joyce Peterson on September 13, 2003. They lived in Arizona and later moved to Berthoud, Colorado. In recent years Bud had entered the care of Berthoud Living Center, where he died on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at the age of 92.

Bud was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton. During his farming years he was a member of the National Farmers Organization and the Farmers Union. He had served on the Ruthton School Board and the Ellsborough Township Board. He enjoyed playing the fiddle, and was a member of the South Dakota Old Time Fiddlers, traveling with them and playing in jam sessions. This spring he will be inducted into the Old Time Fiddlers Hall of Fame. He enjoyed his life work of farming, fixing machinery, visiting and meeting people. He especially enjoyed time with his family.

Bud will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Joyce Peterson of Loveland, CO; his sons, Jon (Marcia) Erickson of Balaton, MN, Kenneth (Sandra) Erickson of Ruthton, MN, and Paul (Marilyn) Erickson of Balaton, MN; seven grandchildren, Joel (Jenna) Erickson, Shiloy (Justin) Sime, Thomas Erickson, Jacob Erickson, Kendra Erickson, Laura Erickson, and Lucas Erickson; two great-grandchildren, Andee Sime and Cohen Erickson; step-daughter Debbie Hooley of Loveland, CO; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lorraine; an infant son, William Dean Erickson; his parents; and his sisters, Elsa Peck, Dorothy Lange-Kammerer, and Ruth Shattuck.
In loving memory.