Jewel Erickson

Jewel Erickson, age 88, of Clearbrook, MN, passed away on Tuesday, August 26th, at Bemidji Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji, MN. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5th, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Clearbrook with the Rev. Michael Wright officiating. Interment will be in Sinclair Cemetery, rural Leonard, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 4th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Jewel was born on September 28, 1936, near Washita, Oklahoma to Jesse and Nettie (Jump) Sumpter. She was delivered by her daddy.

Jewel was raised on a farm with eight siblings. She was a “spark” from the time she could walk. Always happy, always smiling and looking for something to get into. That never changed for the rest of her life.

She never met a stranger. She could make you laugh until you cried and cheer you up with just her smile. Her sister, Opel, always said “she didn’t have to flirt’. All she had to do was look at them with those beautiful bedroom eyes. She could sing like a country bird. She was always on the bright side of everything.

We were very blessed to have her for 88 years before she went to God. She was the heart and light of our family. She always helped anyone who needed it. Either for a place to stay in the cold or a warm meal. She was an awesome cook. All of our friends called her Mom. They could talk to her about anything.

She met and married Elvin B. Erickson on September 16, 1954, in Apache, Oklahoma. They had five children. She was a terrific mom. She was always there for us and had our backs against anyone, whether in school or later in life. She was a Momma Bear when she needed to be.

They moved to Clearbrook, Minnesota after marrying Elvin at 17 years old. Elvin’s mother Anna (Hanson) Erickson quickly took her in and loved her like a daughter. They lived by Edwin and Anna Erickson and helped each other. Anna taught Jewel how to cook “Norwegian” food to go along with her southern country style. She made the best potato dumplings… “Klub”.

Jewel worked hard at anything she did. Whether it was at the Arctic Cat in Clearbrook or Nelson’s eggs in Bagley. She helped Elvin in building Erickson Steel Guitars and also with restoring his 1957 Chevys and a 1936 Hupmobile.

Jewel started playing drums in Elvin’s band they started with their son playing bass. Elvin “Buddy” Erickson called it the Clearwater Country Band. Later, she sang for the band and learned how to play guitar to help out. Everyone loved to listen to her sing. She sung a lot of Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells as well as many more songs in that era. They played all over Minnesota and North Dakota for many years and later when they retired they would go do Jam Sessions at old folks homes around their area and play for them. They both loved to make people happy. She was truly a special person to anyone who knew her.

She is survived by her children, Jimmy Wayne Erickson (Pam “Touse” Erickson), Ricky Lee Erickson (Sue Bergman), and Kelly Erickson; daughter-in-law, Cindy “Winter” (Buddy) and Kathy Sather Erickson (Kelly); one sister, Shirley Sumpter LeCroy and sisters-in-law, Evelyn Sumpter; seven grandchildren, Jesse (Dana) Erickson, Lee (Amy) Erickson, Joni (Steve) Weissenfluh, Derek Erickson, Amanda (Bradley) Erickson; 16 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elvin; her parents; one son, Elvin “Buddy” Erickson; one grandson, Justin Lee Erickson; brothers, W.L. Sumpter (Elsie), LaVoice Sumpter (Grace) Lenzie Sumpter; sisters, Ruby (Don) Howard, Opel (Robert) Smith, Mary Johnson, Joyce (Wayne) Pruitt; brothers-in-law, Emmeth Erickson and Earl Erickson; and sister-in-law, Elaine (Lester) Lene.