Maria Erickson

Maria G. Erickson peacefully passed away on March 29th 2024 at the age of 93. She was born on June 11th 1930 on the homestead Northwest of Conrad. She was the third child to Emil and Marie Verstraete. She attended the Lone Tree Country school up until the 8th grade. From there she would do lots of jobs for their neighbors such as babysitting and cooking during harvest time.

  Maria met Harry Erickson at a dance in town and the rest is history. They were married on December 3rd 1950. They lived on the Erickson Farm and raised three sons, Roger, Eddy, and Vernon.

 Maria, or Grandma Mary as she was known, was always known to be a hard worker. She would never just sit and do nothing. You would always find her helping out with odds and ends at the farm. Nobody could butcher chickens like her and her sisters. It was always one of the annual events if you will. Dressed in their oversized overalls and bandanas on their heads they would get the job done in no time. Every year she would make her trip to the post office in town to pick up those chickens and raise them up for the butchering.

 What she was best known for was her cooking. Probably most famous were her pumpkin and apple pies. But let's not forget her fried chicken and mashed potatoes either. There was always something there on the counter to eat or munch on while you sat at the kitchen table and had a cup of coffee or a pop. That didn't include the bi-weekly treats from the Schwan man. Christmas time was always lefse, krumkake, and rosettes. If you ever left the farm hungry that was your own fault.  

 Maria taught her family that hard work, determination, and a bit of onery will get you far in life. The lessons learned on the farm will forever be in our hearts.

 Survivors include her brother, Antonie Verstraete; sons, Roger, Eddy (Ruth), and Vernon; eight grandchildren, Cassie (Ty) DeVries, Clint (Katie) Erickson, Curt Erickson, Cody Erickson, Heather Erickson, Logan (Alexis) Erickson, Taryn (Flemming) Erickson and Cole Erickson. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry; siblings, Teresa, Carl, Marguerite, and Christine; and grandson, Tyler.

Memorials can be made to the Pondera 4-H Council, 20 4th Ave SW, Conrad, MT 59425, or Conrad FFA Chapter.

Memorial services will be Tuesday, May 28, at 2:00 pm at Pondera Valley Lutheran Church.