Fay Erickson

Fay Shirley (Krause) Erickson was born on November 27, 1935, to Julius and Christine (Keller) Krause. She grew up on the family farm near Verdi, Minnesota and was the youngest of six children. Fay was baptized, confirmed and married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Verdi Township, Lincoln County; right near the farm she grew up on. On November 10, 1957, Fay was united in marriage to Ronald Erickson. Together they raised their family on the farm just two miles north of Woodstock, Minnesota; a farm that is now the home to one of their grandsons, his wife and their two daughters. 

Fay had worked hard all of her life; she did not shy away from a hard day’s work. She was always helping on the farm as needed, completing her daily chores that consisted of feeding the broiler chickens, pigs, sheep and cows. Fay loved being outdoors, she could be found outside most of the time. She was always mowing lawn with her snapper, tending to her flower beds, or working in her large vegetable garden. During the summer months she could be found driving the loader tractor, spending hours picking up branches in the grove or gathering vegetables from her garden. In the fall she enjoyed driving her tractor, spending countless hours plowing the fields.

Fay was an active member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Pipestone. During her time there, she sang in the choir, helped with Sunday School and was a member of the couple’s group. After their retirement in 2012, Ronald and Fay moved from the farm to a new home in Pipestone. Her favorite past time and her happy place, was playing the slot machines at the nearby casinos. She always had a smile on her face when she was telling you about her “winnings”. Her affectionate personality and her ability to make everyone feel loved will be greatly missed. Fay passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Pipestone County Medical Center, with family by her side, at the age of 88 years and 8 months. 

She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 67 years, Ronald Erickson of Pipestone, Minnesota; children, Judy Erickson of Marshall, Minnesota, Gary (Laurie) Erickson of Holland, Minnesota, and Timothy (Linda) Erickson of Pipestone; grandchildren, Mark (Ashley) Erickson of Holland and Craig (Raeann) Erickson of Woodstock; and five great-grandchildren, Hailey, Grace and Logan Erickson, and Hope and Norah Erickson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Christine Krause; siblings, Harold (Verna) Krause, Merrill (Cora) Krause, Marvin (Ines) Krause, Valeria (Harold) Mueller, and Lilas (Kenney) Toft; nieces and nephews, Carol Mueller, Danny Toft, Linda Nichols and Rodney Mueller.

Blessed be her memory.