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Luverne M. Whitey Erickson Apr 23 1943 - Oct 05 2010
A Celebration of Life for Luverne Melvin Erickson, age 67, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2010, in Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown. Services will be led by Chaplain Gayle Small. Music will be provided by Marcia Jelsma as organist and LeeAnn Maag as soloist. Luverne passed away peacefully in his home on October 5, 2010. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be: Big Stone Therapies Staff, Jake Dally, Larry Erickson, Beth Gallisath, Sheila Grabow, Loren Haug, Eugene “Buzz” Lang, Leonard McClung, Dan Reiffenberger, Chuck Zellner, and Randy Zellner. Active pallbearers will be: Mel Erickson, Fred Colling, Bill Cunningham, Doug Davis, Bill Erickson, Paul Luken, Jim Pray, Chuck Sattler, and Johnny Schaunaman. Visitation will be at Crawford Funeral Chapel on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and will continue at the chapel on Saturday prior to the services. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Luverne was born on April 23, 1943, to Melvin and Lois (Luken) Erickson in Watertown, SD. He was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Henry, SD. Luverne attended country school at Grandview 55 and moved from Florence to Watertown in October 1956. He married Terry Colling on March 18, 1967, in Watertown, SD. Luverne’s interests included racing cars in the mid-to-late 1960s, hunting, fishing, gun collecting, and the outdoors. Luverne lived his adult life in Watertown where he worked for Ford Garage, Triangle Motor Company, Gray’s Construction, and Medallion Homes. He is survived by his wife, Terry, of Watertown, SD; his two children: Cheryl Erickson of St. Paul, MN, and Mel Erickson of Watertown, SD; his mother, Lois Grygiel, of Watertown, SD; and his sister, Sandra Erickson, of Castlewood, SD. Luverne was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Erickson; an infant son; and his step-father, Leon Grygiel. It was important to Luverne to thank his family and friends who gathered around him this past year as well as his skilled and caring doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff including: Dr. Dan Reiffenberger and Northridge Clinic staff, Prairie Lakes Home Health/Hospice and hospital staff, Sheila Grabow, Beth Gallisath, Prairie Lakes Cancer Center staff and Dr. Michael Ward, Big Stone Therapies staff, and Dr. Gust of Sanford Hospital. Memorials may be directed to PLHS Home Health/Hospice, PLHS Foundation, or Codington County Pro Pheasants.

Luverne M. Whitey Erickson
Apr 23 1943 - Oct 05 2010

A Celebration of Life for Luverne Melvin Erickson, age 67, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2010, in Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown. Services will be led by Chaplain Gayle Small. Music will be provided by Marcia Jelsma as organist and LeeAnn Maag as soloist. Luverne passed away peacefully in his home on October 5, 2010.

Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be: Big Stone Therapies Staff, Jake Dally, Larry Erickson, Beth Gallisath, Sheila Grabow, Loren Haug, Eugene “Buzz” Lang, Leonard McClung, Dan Reiffenberger, Chuck Zellner, and Randy Zellner. Active pallbearers will be: Mel Erickson, Fred Colling, Bill Cunningham, Doug Davis, Bill Erickson, Paul Luken, Jim Pray, Chuck Sattler, and Johnny Schaunaman.

Visitation will be at Crawford Funeral Chapel on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and will continue at the chapel on Saturday prior to the services. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Luverne was born on April 23, 1943, to Melvin and Lois (Luken) Erickson in Watertown, SD. He was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Henry, SD. Luverne attended country school at Grandview 55 and moved from Florence to Watertown in October 1956.

He married Terry Colling on March 18, 1967, in Watertown, SD.

Luverne’s interests included racing cars in the mid-to-late 1960s, hunting, fishing, gun collecting, and the outdoors. Luverne lived his adult life in Watertown where he worked for Ford Garage, Triangle Motor Company, Gray’s Construction, and Medallion Homes.

He is survived by his wife, Terry, of Watertown, SD; his two children: Cheryl Erickson of St. Paul, MN, and Mel Erickson of Watertown, SD; his mother, Lois Grygiel, of Watertown, SD; and his sister, Sandra Erickson, of Castlewood, SD.

Luverne was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Erickson; an infant son; and his step-father, Leon Grygiel.

It was important to Luverne to thank his family and friends who gathered around him this past year as well as his skilled and caring doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff including: Dr. Dan Reiffenberger and Northridge Clinic staff, Prairie Lakes Home Health/Hospice and hospital staff, Sheila Grabow, Beth Gallisath, Prairie Lakes Cancer Center staff and Dr. Michael Ward, Big Stone Therapies staff, and Dr. Gust of Sanford Hospital.

Memorials may be directed to PLHS Home Health/Hospice, PLHS Foundation, or Codington County Pro Pheasants.

Guest book

Comment posted by: Jeannie
Thu 14th Oct 2010 04:04 pm

Lois, Sandy and all the Family of Whitey,

My sincere sympathy and prayers for you and family members.

Jeannie (Williams) Brenden

Comment posted by: Michael and Cris Leary
Wed 13th Oct 2010 11:35 am

Terry and family,
Our prayers are with you all at this sad time. May you remember the the times that brought joy to your hearts and thank God for them.

Comment posted by: Ted and Pat Feller
Wed 13th Oct 2010 09:46 am

Terry and Family,
We are very sorry for the loss of your husband and father. We will keep you in our prayers.

Comment posted by: Jan Mohr Solum
Sat 09th Oct 2010 09:18 am

Terry, Sincere sympathy to you and your family at this sad time.

Comment posted by: Conrad Mitzel
Sat 09th Oct 2010 06:26 am

Terry and family,
Our thougts and prayers are with you.

Comment posted by: Vicki Johnson
Fri 08th Oct 2010 08:20 pm

Terry and family,
I am so sorry for the loss of your husband and father. You have my deepest condolences. Sincerely,
Vicki Johnson

Comment posted by: Jerry and Carol Hanten
Fri 08th Oct 2010 01:48 pm

Our sincere sympathy in the loss of Luverne. Our friendship with Luverne goes back a very very long time. He was a sincere person and will be remembered by many.rnrn

Comment posted by: steven luken
Thu 07th Oct 2010 08:04 pm

luverne will be missed he was a great guy i remember the time when he took me pheasent hunting. and the times we worked together at gray const.my condolences to the family.my prayers are with his family in this time steven b luken

Comment posted by: Judy Rishling
Thu 07th Oct 2010 10:10 am

Terri,Melvin & Sheryl
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. My prayers and thoughts are with you in the days ahead. Just rememeber all the good times you and LuVerne had that will help you get through all of this.
Take Care Judy

Comment posted by: Donna Dailey
Thu 07th Oct 2010 08:26 am

Dear Terry, Sheryl, Melvin, and Lois,
I am so sorry of Luverne's passing. He was a very special Nephew. I wish I could be with you at this very difficult time. My heart and prayers are with you. I love you all and I loved Luverne so much.

Comment posted by: Alta Jaquet
Thu 07th Oct 2010 07:50 am

Terry and family,
So very sorry to hear about your loss. Kenny has special memories racing with LaVerne and I know you have many more special memories. We speak often of the two of you as we pass your house on the way to the hospital. We will keep you in our prayers. Kenny and Alta

Comment posted by: India FICO Team
Thu 07th Oct 2010 07:10 am

Very sorry to hear the news. May his sole rests in peace

Comment posted by: Rita Dula
Thu 07th Oct 2010 06:35 am

Terry,Words cannot heal the pain of loosing someone so dear. May God give you peace and the strenght to overcome the pain. Our deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband. Robert and I remember Luverne well, since we both worked with him at Medallion Homes. What a nice man, always smiling with a good sense of humor. We keep you and your family in our prayers. Love, Robert and Rita

Comment posted by: Gloria Dailey Nelson
Wed 06th Oct 2010 08:24 pm

Aunt Lois, Terri,Sheryl& Melvin,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one. You have our deepest sympathy. You will all be in our thoughts and prayers. I know this is a difficult time but try to remember that LaVerne is no longer in any pain and is a better place. Gloria, Delton, & Jamie

Comment posted by: Jan Lawrence
Wed 06th Oct 2010 07:38 pm

Terry,
I am so sorry for you loss. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Comment posted by: Connie
Wed 06th Oct 2010 12:19 pm

Terry - Roger and I are so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Luverne's sense of humor and all the laughs we shared. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Comment posted by: Ed Brekke
Wed 06th Oct 2010 12:00 pm

Melvin,
My parents and I give our deepest sympathy for you and your family, this comes to a complete shock to me. I remember when I came to his house looking for you and seem fine.

Comment posted by: Mel Platt
Wed 06th Oct 2010 06:28 am

Terri: My deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband. This is a difficult time for you and your family but take comfort in knowing that he is in a better place.

Comment posted by: Lee Ann Swanson
Tue 05th Oct 2010 07:25 pm

Terry;
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Lee

Comment posted by: Tina Haug
Tue 05th Oct 2010 02:30 pm

Terri, Melvin & Sheryl,
Our deepest sympathy to your family. LaVerne was a awesome guy and he lived a great life. I will never forget him and his laugh. I appreciate all he did for me when I was struggling and I appreciate the fact that he helped AJ learn to hunt, he's a good shot because of LaVerne. Most of all LaVerne was like a brother to my dad I am so glad to have known him he was a part of our family. Take Care! Love Tina Haug & Family

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