Duane Erickson

Duane L. Erickson, 86, lifelong resident of Cormorant, MN, died Wednesday, September 28 at Sunnyside Care Center near Lake Park. Funeral Services for Duane will be held Monday, October 3 at 11AM in Cormorant Lutheran Church, rural Lake Park. Officiating will be Reverend Wade Dutton. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 2 at Cormorant Lutheran Church from 4pm-7pm with a 6:30pm Prayer Service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Monday. Duane Leon Erickson was born April 11, 1930 in Cormorant, MN to Erick and Annie (Anderson) Erickson. He was baptized and confirmed at Cormorant Lutheran Church and attended school in Cormorant Village. After school he continued helping on the family farm. Duane became the 3rd generation to take over the family farm, a farmstead his grandfather homesteaded. On March 27, 1953, Duane was united in marriage to Mary Willette at the St. Francis Xavier rectory in Lake Park. They made their home on the farm working side by side raising their family and tending to crops, and cattle. In 1970, Duane and Mary were proud to receive the Century Farm Award for the Erickson family homestead. Duane had a passion for horses. Each year during Christmas he would bring Santa along with his team of horses into Cormorant Village and offer sleigh rides for everyone to enjoy. He also brought his horses to many parades throughout the years. An active community member, Duane served on the school board for Cormorant School until it closed in 1965; he served as a board member for the Cormorant Watershed, Cormorant Church Cemetery and Cormorant Township boards respectively. He was an adult 4-H Leader in Cormorant for many years and was a member of the Midwest Minnesota Harness Club and Lamplighter Square Dance Club. Duane and Mary enjoyed travelling. Their adventures took them to 48 states, trips to Mexico, six Canadian Provinces and overseas visiting Sweden and Norway tracing back his family heritage. Duane instilled in his children the value of hard work along with dedication to family and community. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Duane is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary of Cormorant along with their children: Timothy (Chris) Erickson of Cormorant, Debra (Gregg) Johnson of Audubon and Mark (Kimberly) Erickson. In addition he is survived by seven grandchildren: Luke Johnson, Tina (Brenton) Newling, Laura (Greg) Buschette, Jake (Amy) Johnson, Jeffrey (Sadie) Johnson, Emily (Leroy) Filler and Andrew Erickson along with five great-grandchildren, one brother-in-law: Arvid Thompson and eight sisters-in-law and two additional brothers-in-law along with numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, one son: Leon Erickson, three sisters: Alma Pederson, Hilda Larson and Delores Thompson and one brother: Duane S. Erickson.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Service
Monday, October 3, 2016

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