Harvey Erickson

BRISTOL- Harvey Erickson, 85 of Bristol died on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at his home. His funeral has been postponed until 3:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol. His funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Monday, January 12, 2009 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol, Rev. Janet Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Bristol Cemetery. Visitation will be at Fiksdal Funeral Service (fiksdalfuneral.com) in Webster on Sunday 4-8 P.M. and prior to services on Monday at the church. Harvey Edwin Erickson was born on Thursday, August 16, 1923 to Martin and Emma (Braly) Erickson near Webster, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethesda Lutheran Church. The family lived on several farms in the area and he attended country school near where they were living at the time. In June 1945 he entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II stationed at New York at Ellis Island guarding Germans. After his discharge in1947 he remained in New York for ten years and was employed as a security guard, truck driver and on a dairy farm. In 1957 he moved to New Jersey where he worked on a dairy farm. In 1961 he moved to Lansdale, Pennsylvania where he worked as a machinist. On April 14, 1987 he married Lila Rudolph-Erickson at Bristol, South Dakota. The couple made their home in Bristol where he worked for Hansmeier and Sons until the present time. He was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol. He enjoyed reading, crosswords, movies, animals and wildlife, and working. He also enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s activities and visiting with family. Harvey passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at Bristol, South Dakota at the age of 85 years, 4 months and 23 days. Survivors include his wife, Lila of Bristol; three sons, Harvey (Paula) Erickson and Clifford Erickson both of Lansdale, PA and Philip (Christine) Erickson of Sellersville, PA; three daughters, Claudia (Ron) Valerio of Royersford, PA, Theresa (Keith) Hansmeier of Bristol, SD and Pamela (Robert) Page of Webster, SD; one sister, Marion Sandal of Webster, SD; 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers, six sisters, and an infant child.