Carol Lee (Clausen) Erickson

Carol Lee Erickson died peacefully on January 16, 2022 in Woodbury, MN.

She was born to Julius (Uke) and Lillian (Lil) Koehn Clausen on November 11, 1938 in Kinbrae MN. She was raised on a farm near Dundee, MN, attended country school and then graduated from Fulda High School in 1956. She married Leo Heimendinger in December 1956, and they resided in Truman, MN where she had four children. In January 1970, she married Richard (Red) Erickson. They made their home in Sherburn, MN and in her later years, they moved to Woodbury. She worked for many years at Stokley Van Camp’s in Fairmont, MN starting out as a seasonal summer worker, and eventually becoming a full time employee working in various jobs throughout the plant. Carol took a leap of faith and became a first time college student at age 50. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse, and continued her studies to become a Registered Nurse. She cared for people at nursing homes in Trimont and Jackson, MN as a home health nurse for Prairieland and later for Bright Star in Woodbury. Carol loved her job and didn’t hang up her license until 2020.

She was an avid gardener and along with Red, raised an abundant garden at their home which provided fruits, vegetables and canned goods for them year round as well as produce for many neighbors. She was involved in various roles at St John’s Lutheran Church and later continued her faith, finding family, volunteering and worshipping at Memorial Lutheran Church of Afton. A visit to Carol’s included wonderful food, baked goods, including peanut cake, laughter and interesting (and repeated) stories. She found she savored a good glass of wine and enjoyed craft beers. Sharing beer tasting dinners became an enjoyable evening out with family and new friends. When Carol went wine tasting, she somehow charmed the staff and always seemed to end up with a free wine glass, bottle opener, or another discount all the while making a new friend. After a trip to Las Vegas, Carol and Red were hit with a travel bug. They enjoyed many adventures on bus tours from Niagara Falls to the Oregon Coast with stops in Montana, Branson, and Canada. In Jamaica for a family wedding found her parasailing, climbing Dunn River Falls and winning a dance contest. They enjoyed travels in Germany, Egypt, a six island Caribbean cruise, a Ray Charles concert in Hawaii. She travelled to California multiple times to visit family and explore the state, at times bringing a grandchild or two along with her. Her adventurous spirit continued after Red’s death as she continued to travel culminating a lifelong dream of a Rhine River Cruise this past September. She was always ready to try something new and interesting, meet new people, learn from others, or indulge in a good book. Above all else, Carol enjoyed spending time with her large family whether it was attending a performance, athletic event, life celebration, holiday or just meeting for lunch or dinner. It was
easily and always her most cherished gift. Her family learned from her the value of hard work, persistence, faith, perseverance and embracing fear of the unknown.

Left to mourn are her daughter Dawn (James) of Goleta Ca, Wade of St. Paul Park, Thad (Elise) of Woodbury, Jed (Sara) of Rosemount; grandchildren Chelsie (Joe), Melissa (Nick) Laura, Brian (Sarah), Christina (Marcus), Joshua (Karen), Tyler (Erika), Eric, Sydney, Dawson, and Emily; brothers Richard (Marjean) Tom (Kerry); sister in laws Eva and Donna plus 18 greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, siblings Stan, Darrel, and Marilyn; in-laws Clarence and Angeline Erickson, Earl and Ina Erickson, Robert and Regis Wright, Lon Mobley and Kathy Clausen.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, January 22nd at Memorial Lutheran, 15730 S. Afton Blvd, Afton, MN (and can be livestreamed at http://memoriallutheran.org) with at gathering 1 hour prior to the service and from 5:30 - 8 PM Friday, January 21st at O'Halloran and Murphy Funeral and Cremation Services, 8700 Valley Creek Road, Woodbury, MN.

Memorials may be sent to 1012 St. John’s Bay, Woodbury, MN 55129

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