Willa Irene Erickson

Willa Irene Erickson, age 96 of Olsburg, passed away Thursday, December 11, 2025, at Wellsprings of Westmoreland.

She was born in Summerfield, the daughter of Roy and Ida (Ringen) Robeson. She attended local schools and Kansas State Teachers College. Not long after graduating from high school, she married Leland Braddock in 1947 and they had two children, Dennis and Gayle. Lee preceded her in death in 1958.

She later married John Erickson in 1960. They had one son, Randall. John preceded her in death in 2005.

Willa worked as a teacher, waitress and as a records clerk for Lincoln Gas Company. Later she ran her restaurant, The Coffee Cup Café in Summerfield. In 1967, she began to run a farrow-to-finish hog operation, which she continued for 23 years until her retirement.

She is survived by two sons, Dennie Braddock (Charlotte) of Olsburg and Randy Erickson (Jeff Powell) of Manhattan; one daughter, Gayle Casselman (Tom) of Pineville, Oregon; three grandchildren, René Roberts, Todd Braddock and Tony Braddock; five great grandchildren and nine great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Lee Braddock and John Erickson and two brothers, Lawrence Robeson and Dale Robeson.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 pm on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, December 19, 2025, in the Summerfield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Olsburg Lutheran Church and left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home, PO Box 176, Riley, KS 66531.