Helen Madeline Erickson

Helen Madeline Uran Erickson, age 97, of Grants Pass, Oregon, died Friday, March 2 at her home.

Helen was born in 1921 in McVille, North Dakota to parents Sam and Mary Uran. She grew up on the family cattle ranch with her 2 sisters and 4 brothers. They walked and rode horses to a one room schoolhouse until they were ready for high school. Because the winters were so bad, she and her sister Milly moved to nearby Sanish where they lived in a tiny apartment, worked as waitresses during the school year and then went home to help on the ranch during the summers. She met her husband Marty in high school and they were married after they graduated. They had just had their son, Ron when Marty was drafted into the army during WWll. While Marty was in the service, Helen, her sister Milly and their parents moved to Bremerton, Washington where she and her sister worked in the shipyards waiting for Marty to be discharged. After Marty came home from the war, they moved to Oregon, eventually settling in Grants Pass. Helen worked as a secretary for a local optometrist for many years and then for OTP where she did fine soldering work which she really enjoyed. She and Marty had many friends with whom they enjoyed going hunting, fishing and camping.

After retiring, Helen’s greatest joy was quilting which she had learned as a little girl from her Grandmother. She made beautiful quilts, many handstitched and won awards for them in local quilt shows.

She kept up correspondence with many, many family members back in North Dakota throughout her lifetime and her letters were greatly admired for her beautiful penmanship. She attended family reunions which were held on the home ranch near New Town, North Dakota. The last one she attended she was so proud to be able to take her son, grandson Justin and great-granddaughter Cayden where over l00 family member were gathered. She was especially devoted to her grandsons, Jason and Justin and her great grandchildren Cayden and Grayson. Her selflessness, generosity and love for her family will never be forgotten.

She is survived by her son, Ronald Martin Erickson and wife Barbara, grandson Jason and grandson Justin, his wife Lisa and two great-grandchildren Cayden and Grayson and her brother Dale and wife, Nina in North Dakota. She is predeceased by her husband Martin H. Erickson, parents Sam and Mary Uran, brothers Maynard, Leo, Robert and sisters Agnes and Mildred.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March l0, 2018 at 11:30 am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 865 N. W. Fifth Street, Grants Pass, Oregon.