Rebecca J. Erickson

Rebecca J. Erickson, age 78 of Viroqua, died Thursday, February 3, 2011. Rebecca Joan Erickson, 78, passed away early Thursday morning, February 3, 2011 in Viroqua after a lengthy illness. She had been a resident of Vernon Manor since June of 2010. Rebecca was born on April 5, 1932 to Ole and Nora (Jackson) Braaten. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Franklin Lutheran Church in Folsom. She married her husband, Wesley J. Erickson in 1954. They lived and worked in Viroqua until 1957 when they moved to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where her husband worked at Cape Canaveral until 1967. They returned again to reside in Viroqua. Her husband passed away in 1981. Rebecca was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Viroqua Eagles Auxiliary Club. Before her move to Vernon Manor, she lived at Park View Manor for 20 years, making many friends there. She very much enjoyed her hobbies of bowling, knitting, crocheting, many types of crafts and playing her guitar and singing, sometimes for the residents at the Park View Manor. Rebecca enjoyed music all of her life and had a beautiful voice. She sang with her sisters for many different occasions including the Temple Theatre in Viroqua for the talent shows in the late 1940s. She was also open to learning new things from using and understanding her computer to enjoying her daily newspaper, and her favorite, "Animal Planet" on television. Rebecca was a nurses aid and worked many years at Vernon Memorial Hospital and the Bethel Home in Viroqua. In Florida she was a civil air patrol radio operator. She did not have children of her own, but loved her many nieces and nephews and her husbands nieces. She spoke of them so often and in her last requests said that they had always been so loved by her. She spoke of her love of her family. Rebecca is survived by four sisters: Naomi McDaniel, Phyllis (Selmer) Jacobson, Beverly Fredrick, all of Viroqua, Deanna (Merrill) Gardner of Onalaska; sisters-in-law: Myrtle Braaten and Nellie Braaten of Viroqua; brother-in-law, Ramon (Connie) Erickson; sisters-in-law: Ruth Ann (Henry) Herling and Joan (Walt) Gehrke. Besides her husband, Wesley, she was preceded in death by her parents, Ole and Nora (Jackson) Braaten; brothers: Kermit, Obed, Norman and Myron Braaten; brothers-in-law, George McDaniel and Robert Fredrick; and niece, Debra Jacobson. Blessed be our memory of Rebecca Erickson. The family appreciates the wonderful care and concern of Dr. Feltes and the staff at Vernon Manor. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 7, 2011 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. The Rev. Lindsay Paul Jordan and The Rev. Margaret Eiben Hoversten will officiate with burial in the Franklin Church Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be given to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or the memorial of the donors choice. Online condolences may be offered at www.vossfh.com The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.