VELMA LEE ERICKSON Obituary (1928

It is with heavy hearts we said goodbye to our beloved Mother, Grandma, and Great Grandma. Mom passed away peacefully at Edgewood Bismarck on Dominion, with family by her side on January 17, 2022. Our Mom, Velma Lee Erickson, was born October 25, 1928, at Kimball, South Dakota, to Frank and Kathryn (Nepodal) Benedict. She grew up on the family farm in Gann Valley, South Dakota. She loved the farm, farm animals, and helping her dad outside. She attended school in Gann Valley, Kimball, and Huron College, Huron, South Dakota. In November 1948, she married Gordon Dailey. They lived in Fairfax, South Dakota, Delmont, South Dakota, Rapid City, South Dakota, Jacksonville, Arkansas, Denver, Colorado, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Meeteetse, Wyoming, Estelline, South Dakota, and Brookings, South Dakota. Velma stayed at home with their three daughters for their early years, and then did clerical work. She eventually worked to the position of payroll officer at South Dakota State University Human Resources/Payroll Office, Brookings, South Dakota. She was widowed in 1977, and married Richard Erickson in October 1978, in Brookings, South Dakota. They lived in Brookings, until they both retired and moved to Apache Junction, Arizona, for the life of golf, shuffleboard, and years of hosting family and friends. She was widowed in 2005 and moved to Bismarck to be near her daughters. Mom loved playing cards and board games. She was always competitive and usually won. She loved sports and was an avid Minnesota Vikings, Phoenix Suns and Dakota Wizards fan. Mom was always ready to go boating on the Missouri River or spend time with her cats or her daughter's family dogs, Bud and Moses. She had many friends at Brandon Heights, Bismarck, and Edgewood Bismarck on Dominion. She was a popular resident; she always liked joking with the staff. She is survived by two daughters, Mary "Mick" (Dennis) Heupel, Eureka, South Dakota, and Eileen (John) Walsh, Bismarck; South Dakota; three stepsons, Larry (Cindy) Erickson, Denver, Colorado, Steven Erickson, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Richard "Dick" (Sue) Erickson, Yankton, South Dakota, and; 12 grandchildren, Matthew Heupel, Jared (Jessica) Heupel, Garret Walsh, Monte (Brenda) Erickson, Kelly (Paul) Clements, Lori (Jim) Skulabik, Heather Erickson, Sonya Erickson and Ken Soda, Derrick (Rhonda) Erickson, Carrie (Pat) Nolz, Leslie (Doug) Deraner, and Alan (Julie) Erickson; 18 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Velma was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Gordon Dailey and Richard Erickson; one daughter, JoAnn Jordan, stepson Craig "Gus" Erickson, Aberdeen, South Dakota, and one sister, Valla Vee Benedict, Huron, South Dakota. A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 p.m., January 21, 2022, at Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary's Church, Bismarck, with Fr. Jared Johnson officiating. There will be no visitation, as cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota at a later date. Charitable donations may be made to the local Alzheimer's Association or Central Dakota Humane Society, 2104 37thStreet, Mandan, North Dakota 58554.