Mary Erickson
July 25, 2013
Mary Evelyn Erickson passed away July 25, 2013, at Mill Pond Retirement Community in Ankeny, IA. Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, on Monday, July 29, 2013, at 12:00 p.m. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
She was born February 23, 1918, to Ernest and Mary Francis Price in rural Osceola, IA, and grew up on the family farm where she helped with the farming chores. As a young girl Mary loved to ride her pony Jerry while standing up riding bareback, which she claimed Jerry could open the gate.
Following High School graduation Mary attended Osceola Community College and taught Country School for one year, before venturing to California where she met her husband Irvin Erickson. Mary and Irving came back to Iowa in 1945 and settled in Des Moines’ Southside with their five children, where she was active in the Washington School and Lincoln High School PTA and BLH Club. She graduated from Drake University with a Masters of Education degree and taught 1st and 2nd grades at Delaware Elementary School in Southeast Polk until retirement. She and Irvin loved to travel. Irv and Mary’s children and grandchildren were the greatest joys of their lives. Mary enjoyed family get-togethers, gardening, reading, working crossword puzzles, and was always up to a good game of Scrabble.
She is survived by sons, Ken of Pasadena, CA, Ron (Marti) of Minneapolis, MN, and Steve (Constance) of Twin Lakes, CO; daughter, Cathy (Bob) Kuhn of Urbandale, IA; her 12 grandchildren; as well as many great-grandchildren and other loving extended family members.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin; daughter, Carol Ann; sisters, Maxine Luce, and Thelma Langlie; and brothers, Earnest Price Jr., Hubert Price, and Robert Price.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Indianola Heights Free Church Bldg. Fund.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Mark Dykstra
07/30/2013
My sympathy to you. I worked with your Mother at Delaware School for a short time, but continued in Southeast Polk at Centennial. Your Mother was always so upbeat and would tell stories about forgetting the dog at a rest stop, and the one that we all enjoyed was where she would leave a car at a parking lot in California and fly back and forth yearly for a visit to family. She was a joy to have in the teaching field.
Linda Meek-Mack
07/28/2013
I want to give you my condolences. Mary was such a great lady. I enjoyed my time with her and your family when I was growing up. I have lots of good memories of her and your dad. I can still see him roller skating at the skating rink. I also remember your mom dancing as your dad played the organ. Of course, she was out of his sight:). I hope you are all doing well, and peace be with your mom.