Annette Marie Erickson

1939 - 2025

Annette Marie Erickson, age 86, passed away December 2, 2025 at John Knox Village in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Annette was born July 5, 1939 in Rochester, Minnesota. Five months later, she was adopted by Elmer and Sophie Boutiette, Abercrombie, ND. Annette spent her childhood in Abercrombie surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. She displayed very early in her life a love of learning and intelligence and was moved up a grade level in elementary school. Annette also became a proficient pianist and organist. In 1951, Annette became a delegate to the Young Citizens League State Convention. On June 14, 1952, Annette was confirmed at Emmanual Lutheran Church in Abercrombie, North Dakota. From 1952-1956, she attended Oak Grove Lutheran High School from which she graduated as Valedictorian at age 16. After high school, Annette attended Concordia College in Moorehead, Minnesota. The following summer, Annette was selected Centennial Queen during the Centennial Celebration of Fort Abercrombie. Annette graduated from Concordia College in May 1960 with a degree in Biology. She also received a National Science Foundation Research Grant in Bacteriology from North Dakota State University. In December 1960, Annette married John Erickson. They settled in Grand Forks, ND where their son Lance was born in 1962.

After moving to Warrensburg, MO in 1965, their daughter Gail was born in 1966. Annette completed a Master of Science in Education from Central Missouri State University in 1968. In 1972, Annette began her teaching career at Reese Elementary where she taught fourth grade and Reading. In 1980, she became Principal of Southeast Elementary School and later Principal of Ridgeview Elementary in 1987. Annette retired in 1999 from the Warrensburg School District. During her tenure with the school district, Annette was selected Central District Elementary School Principal (1995-1996), selected as a Missouri Distinguished Elementary Principal (1996)
and Central District President (1996-1998). Following retirement, Annette taught at the University of Central Missouri in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction until 2003.

Annette was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, PEO, Chapter CB and was selected as "Woman in Mission of the Year" for the Heartland South United Methodist Women (2011). Annette enjoyed serving at church, sewing children's clothes and baby blankets for missions and sewing dresses and doll clothes for her grandaughters. In the 1980's, Annette took up golfing and loved to spend time at Pertle Springs golfing with her friends. She enjoyed playing Bridge, working in her gardens, baking and cooking. Annette's Norwegian heritage was very important to her and she loved to share her knowledge and experiences through stories, cooking and baking. Every year, Annette would travel home to Abercrombie and enjoy spending time with her family. One of Annette's favorite memories were summers spent at the family vacation house on Ottertail Lake in Minnesota.

Annette was a very intelligent, kind, accepting person to everyone she met. Although quiet, Annette could be very assertive in what she believed mattered and because of this, was able to make a positive difference within the Warrensburg School District. Most of all, she loved her kids and her grandkids with all her heart!

Annette was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Sophie Boutiette, her ex-husband John Erickson, and step-grandson Dustin Morton.

Annette is survived by her brother Darwin Boutiette (Mary), Coral Springs,FL; her son Lance Erickson (Lisa), Lee's Summit, MO.; daughter Gail Morton (Shawn), Lee's Summit, MO.; grandchildren Blake Wrisinger, Parkville, MO.; Lauren Serrecchia (Nick), Lake Villa, IL., Elizabeth Wrisinger, Lees Summit MO; Luke Erickson, Lee's Summit, MO.; Chris Morton, Lee's Summit, MO, and great-grandson Jaxon Morton.

Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery, on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church in Warrensburg, Missouri, with a funeral service following the visitation.

The family requests donations to the Warrensburg First United Methodist Church and Warrensburg Schools Foundation.