Gary Erickson, age 70, of Ogema, MN, died Monday, June 11, 2018, at his residence, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Gary Lee Erickson the son of Norris and Cora (DeGroat) Erickson was born in Detroit Lakes, MN, on May 11, 1948.  His youth was spent growing up near the Tamarac Wildlife Refuge until he was 13 when the family moved to a farm near White Earth, MN. He attended country school and later Waubun High School.

As a young man, Gary was united in marriage to Kathryn Donner in Ogema.  The couple made their first home together in Detroit Lakes followed by a move to the Callaway, MN, area.  They would settle in the Ogema area and raise their family.  Gary and Kathy were blessed with two sons, Jamie and Justin.  Over the years, Gary worked as a sheet metal worker at Snappy's in Detroit Lakes in addition to raising cattle.  Following 30 years of faithful employment, he retired from Snappy's in 1997 and they sold the cattle in 2010.  However, Gary never really retired as he remained busy helping on the farm until last week when he was diagnosed with liver cancer.

You could often find Gary shooting the breeze and having coffee with the guys in Ogema.  He loved to visit and spend time with family and friends.  In his younger years, Gary enjoyed riding horse and team penning.  He was an avid outdoorsman who especially liked hunting deer and wild hogs.  The past several years Gary and Kathy have spent the winters in Texas, where Gary proudly took down 2 wild hogs with one shot!  He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather with a strong will and a good sense of humor and will be missed by many.

Gary is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn, of Ogema; sons, Jamie (Laura) Erickson and Justin (Star Fox) Erickson, both of Waubun; two grandchildren, Annie Erickson and Kyle Erickson; two brothers, Wayne (JoAnn) Erickson of Rochert, MN, and Rodney of Grand Rapids, MN; five sisters: Vivian (Ernie) Carner of Billings, MT, Phyllis Solmon of Brainerd, MN, Darlene (Harold) Soyring of Hawley, MN, Janet (Jim) Donner of Ogema, and Lisa Hartmann of Mahnomen, MN; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lee Erickson and a sister, Betty Anderson.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 16, 2018, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Callaway, MN.  Visitation will be held on Friday, June 15, 2018, from 5:00-7:00 pm with a Prayer Service at 6:30 pm at Anderson Family Funeral Home in Mahnomen and one hour prior to the Funeral at the church.  Burial will be held in the Ogema City Cemetery, Ogema, MN.