Erica Buffington

Erica Buffington obituary, St. Louis Park, MN

Erica Buffington

Erica Buffington Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on May 16, 2025.
Erica Buffington, beloved wife, daughter, mother and grandmother, was summoned by the Lord while asleep during the early morning hours of April 19, 2025. At two days past age 78, she awaited Easter on the next day. She suffered from congestive heart failure.

Erica was born on April 17, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland; her loving parents were Lois and Arthur Rollefson. Her father's job in the Foreign Agricultural Service took Erica and her mother and brother to Japan and Burma for eight years during her childhood. When the family returned to the States, she attended Hammond High School in Alexandria, Virginia and then college at St. Olaf in Northfield, Minnesota, receiving her bachelor's degree from a place where many in her mother's family had preceded her.

When her children were old enough, she returned to graduate school and received a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Public Administration, both from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. During and after graduate school, she worked for many years in the field of mental health recovery education.

Erica met Gilbert Stephen (Steve) Buffington at St. Olaf in 1965, when she was 18 years old and he was 21. Due to college locations (Minnesota and California), they had a long-distance courtship, becoming engaged in 1967 and married in 1968. She was the "perfect girl" predicted to Steve by his grandmother when he was twelve years old.

Erica was predeceased by her parents, Lois and Arthur, and her grandfather, Reverend John Christian Walledom. She is survived by her brother Martin Rollefson, husband Steve Buffington, children Rachel Buffington, James Buffington and Martin Buffington, and five grandchildren: Jeffrey, Michael, Katheryn, Finnian and Theodore Buffington.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the Lakewood Memorial Chapel on the grounds of the Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis. Everyone who knew Erica is cordially invited.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign Erica Buffington's Guest Book

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May 29, 2025

Art & Erica Brown planted trees.

May 20, 2025

Elizabeth Shaw posted to the memorial.

May 17, 2025

Craig Johnson posted to the memorial.

3 Entries

Single Memorial Tree

Art & Erica Brown

Planted Trees

Elizabeth Shaw

May 20, 2025

James and I will always be grateful to have known and loved Erica. We share in your sadness over her loss. May she rest in peace.

Craig Johnson

May 17, 2025

Mom

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Sign Erica Buffington's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May 29, 2025

Art & Erica Brown planted trees.

May 20, 2025

Elizabeth Shaw posted to the memorial.

May 17, 2025

Craig Johnson posted to the memorial.