Shirley Erickson

Shirley Ruth Erickson, 90, of Duluth died on March 9th, 2017 at Essentia Health St Mary's Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Born April 8th, 1926 in Duluth to Anna and Gustav Person, she graduated from Central High School in 1944 and Duluth Junior College in 1946. After college, she worked at the Duluth News Tribune from 1946-1952. On May 28, 1949 she married Arne Erickson. She became a mother and homemaker in 1952, and spent her years raising 3 children, and later spoiling her 5 grandchildren, for whom she always had treats stashed away.

Shirley was active in PTA and Newcomers. She was also a member of Christ Lutheran Church where she was Sunday School Superintendent and President of the Mary Circle. Her hobbies included bridge, knitting, cooking, and entertaining family and friends. Many happy weekends were spent at her and Arne's cabin on Thomas Lake in Two Harbors, where five decades of friends and family have created lasting memories, all thanks to Shirley's encouragement for purchasing the lake home in 1969.

Known by her family as "The Energizer Bunny" for never slowing down, even at 90, Shirley endeared herself to all those she met. She was a loyal and loving daughter, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She had a genuine interest in the people around her, and her social personality encouraged those she met to share their stories with her. She often found surprising connections with people, through her wide-ranging social circles and her gift for remembering people and their stories.

She was preceded in death by Arne, her husband of 64 years; her parents Gustav and Anna, her sister Wanda Person Eneboe and her infant sister Grace. She is survived by her children Kristine Curtis of Duluth, Jan (Bruce) Larson of Cloquet and Karl (Mollie) Erickson of Granite Falls, MN, her niece and bridge partner, Karen Erickson as well as many other nieces and nephews, and by five grandchildren: Eric Larson, Wade Larson, Keely Curtis, Rosa (Kevin) Jarvis, and Tressa Erickson, and great-grandson Kent T. Jarvis.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Primrose for the loving care they gave Shirley. Visitation 10AM until the 11AM Funeral Service Saturday March 18, 2017 at Christ Lutheran Church, 2415 Ensign St., Duluth. Burial at Park Hill Cemetery. Williams-Lobermeier-Boettcher Funeral Home is entrusted with final care.