Duane Erickson

Duane A. Erickson age 84 of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away on October 4, 2018.  Duane Arvid Erickson was born April 23, 1934 in Strathcona, MN to Arvid and Gladys (Nelson) Erickson. He attended school in Strathcona until the 8th grade, when the family moved to Kennedy, MN. Duane graduated from Kennedy High School, where he excelled in Football and Baseball. Following graduation, he attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, MN. Duane served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 and was stationed in Germany. On June 15, 1957 he was united in marriage to Annabelle Bergsrud in Winona, MN. They made their home in St. Peter, MN where Duane attended Gustavus Adolphus College earning his bachelor's degree in social work and later received his master's in social work from the University of Minnesota. He graduated in 1960 and they moved to Minneapolis where Duane took a job as a Church Youth Director. In 1962 they moved to Detroit Lakes and Duane started his career with the Minnesota Department of Corrections as a probation officer. Thirty-four years later, he retired as Director of Field Services supervising probation and parole for the state of Minnesota.  Duane enjoyed spending time with his close-knit family. He was an avid sports fan, especially partial to the Twins and the Vikings. He was a long-time member of Kiwanis, the VFW and the American Legion. He also served on the School Board and City Planning Commission. He was very active in his church, teaching Sunday school and serving on the church council.   He is survived by his wife, Annabelle; one daughter, LeAnn Erickson, of Detroit Lakes, MN; two sons, Jeffrey “Leif” (Deborah) Erickson, of Detroit Lakes, MN; and Daniel (Michelle) Erickson, of Boulder City, NV; four grandchildren, Katie (Steven) Palmer, of Hawley, MN; Ayla Erickson, of Detroit Lakes, MN; Jerek Erickson, of Boulder City, NV; and Justice Erickson, of Boulder City, NV; two great grandsons, Oliver and Harvey Palmer; one sister, Maxine Anderson, of Boston, MA; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Jonathon; and a brother in law, Merlin Anderson. Memorial Services will be on Saturday, October 13, 2018; 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be on Friday, October 12 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes, MN.