Helen Erickson

Helen Erickson, a longtime Williston resident, has gone to be with our Lord and Savior.

She was born Helen Emily Beckman in Maxbass, North Dakota on September 27, 1913.
At the age of two, she moved with her parents, Fred and Bessie (Stone) Beckman to
Williston, where she resided the remainder of her life. When her father died in a job-
related railroad accident in 1923, she, being the oldest, helped raise her siblings.

She was valedictorian of the 1931 Williston High School graduating class. After high
school, she worked at Foss Lumber Company. Helen was noted for her figure skating,
often competing in dance competitions. She was married on August 10, 1941 to
LeRoy Erickson, who preceded her in death in 1982.

Helen worked as a bookkeeper amd secretary at the Williston Junior High School for 27
years in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. She was a charter member of Concordia Lutheran
Church. She was LWML secretary for 15 years and had also served as president and
treasurer for that women's church organization. She taught Sunday School for 25 years.
Her faith was an inspiration to many.

She loved her family and friends. Her train trips to Washington state to visit her son, Jim,
and his family and some of her husband's relatives became an almost annual event. She
also visited her brother, Bill on the West Coast. She and her daughter, Shirley, took the
train and bus to travel to Missouri to see various entertainers live in concert. She enjoyed
visiting her sisters, Merle Thune and the late Mary Raaum Hillerson, in North Dakota.
Marion Larson, a friend, often took day trips with Helen to Sidney, Montana and other
places to shop and have lunch.

Helen loved life to the fullest. she fought courageously during her last days at the
Bethel Lutheran Home, as she suffered from stroke-caused dementia.

Survivors include her daughter, Shirley Platfers of Williston; her son, James Erickson of
University Place, Washington; a sister, Merle Thune of Bismarck; a brother,
William Beckman of Solona Beach, CA; and four grandsons: Scott and Mike Platfers, both
of Fargo, ND and Keith and Gregg Erickson, both of University Place, WA. Also surviving
are three great grandchildren, Aspen Platfers of Madison, WI and, Samantha and Christian
Marmon of Williston.

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