Fern Erickson

FERN MATHILDA ERICKSON

Osage

Fern Mathilda Erickson, 91, of Osage, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage with Pastor Bruce Kaltwasser officiating. Burial will be in Osage Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Fern Frese was born June 24, 1925, to Herbert and Linda (Groth) Frese, at the family farm in Cedar Township, Mitchell County. She was baptized on July 26, 1925, by Pastor Theo Frese at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Osage. She was confirmed on April 9, 1939, Easter Sunday, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage. Fern attended country schools and graduated from Osage High School in 1942. On Jan. 9, 1945, she married Cpl. Oscar Erickson, while he was in the Marine Corps. After his discharge, they lived in Osage and Mount Vernon and moved to Monona in 1953. Two children were born to this union. Fern was a stay-at-home mom and didn't work outside the home until after her children had left home. She enjoyed her family and did sewing for them and others. She also became interested in quilting. Many of her things are being enjoyed by others.

Fern is survived by her daughter, Karen (Bruce) Colby of Gladewater, Texas; her son, Wayne (Terri) Erickson of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Blair (Angie) Colby, Brett (Danielle) Colby and Erin (Brent) Yakish; three great-grandchildren, Ashlyn Yakish and Christian and Brady Colby; one sister-in-law, Evelyn Erickson of Brainerd, Minn.; one brother-in-law, Arnold Matter of Waltham, Minn.; many, many special nieces and nephews; and very good friends who are also special.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Oscar Erickson, in 2007; two sisters, Verna Olson and Leola Matter; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Information available and condolences accepted at www.champion-bucheitfuneralhome.com. Champion- Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, (641) 732-3706.