Joanne C Erickson, Sartell, 75

July 11, 1939 - July 26, 2014

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00AM Thursday, July 31, 2014, at the Country Manor Chapel in Sartell, for Joanne Erickson, who died Saturday at the St. Cloud Hospital. The Rev. Al Stangl will officiate. Entombment will be in Assumption Cemetery, in St. Cloud.Friends and relatives may call 1 hour prior to services Thursday, at the chapel in Sartell. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, in St. Cloud.

Joanne was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Joseph & Gladys (Campbell) Meehan. She grew up on a farm near Madison, SD. Joanne graduated from Orland, SD High School and was Valedictorian for her class of 12. After graduation, she attended SDSU in Brookings, SD. She taught home economics in Webster, SD and was a home economist, in business, for Peavey Company, in Minneapolis. She married Robert Erickson on September 26, 1964, at St. Helena Catholic Church, in Minneapolis. She was a religious education coordinator at Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Louis Park and at St. John the Baptist Church in Kenmore, NY, where she directed the Penance and Eucharistic programs. She received “Religious Educator of the Year Award” from the Diocese of Buffalo, NY in 1991. She was in the first group of women to be readers and Eucharistic Ministers with Vatican II in St. Louis Park, MN. She moved to St. Cloud in 1999, to be closer to her family. Joanne was a member of St. Peter’s Church in St. Cloud. Joanne looked forward to reuniting with her college friends every September for the “Knight House” reunion. Joanne lived life to the fullest by having fun and being 100% Irish. She was a sociable person; always being the first person to show up and the last person to leave. Joanne had a great sense of humor and the biggest smile. She enjoyed her daily cross word puzzle, reading, a glass of chardonnay, decorating for holidays, and being involved in activities at the Country Manor Villa. Spending time with her family meant the world to her; especially cherished moments with her grandchildren.

Joanne is survived by her children, Cathy (Tim) Valek of Sauk Rapids, Jim (Lynne) Erickson of Albertville; grandsons, Jayson and Nathan Valek; granddaughter, Christina Erickson; siblings, Mary (Peter) Stolley of Northfield, Jane (Norbert) Sebade of Hill City, SD, Judy (Douglas) Stoltz of Tripp, SD, Bill (Janet) Meehan of Lead, SD, David Meehan of Madison, SD; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, Richard; and husband, Robert “Bob” Erickson.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the kind, caring, and compassionate staff at the St. Cloud Hospital for their care of Joanne.

Memorials are preferred to Country Manor Chapel, Sartell.