Ron Andrew Erickson was born February 23rd, 1966 in Maddock, ND to Milton and Darlene (Liudahl) Erickson.   He died on Monday, May 4th, 2009 in Minot from injuries sustained in a plane crash, doing what he loved with one of his best friends, Bob Stauffer.

Ron graduated from Maddock Public School in 1984, followed by an Associate of Arts degree in Mechanics - Agribusiness in 1986 from NDSSS in Wahpeton. He attained his BS degree in Ag Mechanization with a minor in Agronomy in 1989 from NDSU in Fargo. While attending NDSU, he lived in the Co-op House where he met lifelong friends.

Ron was a lifetime member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Esmond.  He was awarded the North Central Soil Conservation Award in 2005. Ron enjoyed being on a variety of boards and involved in many organizations including the Northern Plains Electric Board, the Maddock / Harvey Farmers Union Oil Board, the Immanuel Lutheran Church Board of Trustees, the Maddock Economic Development Corporation Board, the Manitoba / North Dakota Zero Till Association, the Esmond Ambulance Service, Benson County Crop Improvement Association, Maddock Airport Authority and Benson County Farmers Union Board. But even more, Ron was passionate about flying, aerial spraying, playing sports, working out, farming, dogs, food and chocolate. He had a wide variety of interests to which he loved to visit about such as politics, current events, farming issues, community happenings and recent innovations.

Most of all he loved his family and friends and the best times of his life were spent with those to which he was close. He had old friends and new friends, elderly friends and young friends, and friends he had yet to meet. He was a generous and giving person. A special pride for him was being an uncle to Andrew, Megan and Annika. They looked forward to his visits, wrestling matches, joking around and stories. Ron lived life to the fullest; he worked hard, he played hard, he laughed hard, he cried hard, he slept hard and he loved hard.

Those who knew Ron understand "Ron time." One of the few things he was early for was his death.

Ron is survived by his parents of Esmond;  sisters:  Holly and Rob Arnold of Minot and Rick and Beth Olson of Maddock; nephew and nieces:  Andrew & Annika Arnold and Megan Olson and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Ron was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents: Andrew & Freda (Smith) Erickson and maternal grandparents:  Theodore and Gladys (Ellingson) Liudahl and many uncles.

Funeral Services:  Saturday, May 9, 2009, 2:00 PM at North Viking Lutheran Church in Maddock with Pastor Harold Ovre and Pastor Allen Campbell officiating.

Visitation:  Friday from 2 to 5pm at the Nelson Funeral Home in Maddock and after 6pm in the church

Prayer Service:  Friday, 7:00pm in the church

Casket bearers:  Rob Arnold,  Bob Engkvist,  Mitch Lloyd,  Rick Olson,  Gregg Smith, Andrew Arnold and Keith Smith

Honorary bearers:  Maddock High School Class of 1984, family and friends

Music:  Paula Duren, pianist

Eulogy: Gary Wald

Interment:  Vasa Lutheran Cemetery, rural Esmond




Condolences:


I am Betty Ann's sister and I met you at Virgil's funeral. I just talked to her and she told me what happened. I wanted to tell you how very sorry I am about what happened. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Ron but I have heard many stories. What a special young man! I know he held a special place in both their hearts. May your memories and God's peace help you through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. At least, he is with Virg and other loved ones.

Barbara Klaas




Milt, Darlene, Holly and Beth,

Please accept my condolescences.

Ron was a great, life-long friend and will be truly missed by many. We had many good memories which have been thought about this week. It is hard to put into words how good of a guy Ron was....He was the best!

God Bless Ron.

Dave Rice









What a great loss for your family, friends and community! I am an employee of Northern Plains--where he was a director. I always appreciated Ron's wonderful sense of humor and kindness. He always had a smile and I couldn't help but notice each time I saw him that he went out of his way to make others feel important. That, I believe, is the definition of grace--and, though Ron is laughing from heaven at us as we characterize him this way, he had an extraordinary sense of grace and respect for others. He was one of a kind and I am so glad I had the opportunity to know him. May your memories sustain you--and know that he will be missed.

Connie Krapp









Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of you during this most difficult time. Todd & I have wonderful memories of the CO-OP house that will be treasured till our dying breath. We always thought we would all grow old together, but that was not meant to be. We will meet again across the rainbow among the clouds. Ron and Bob will be forever in our hearts.

Todd, Kathy, Ethan, Laura, Andrew Oakland





Having Ron for 4 years in school was interesting and something I have never forgotten. His smile and laughter would radiate throughout the room. It was hard to stay mad at him for anything, that's for sure. I was deeply saddened by Ron's death, and yet, I could just picture him flying that plane. All through high school, whenever someone asked Ron what he wanted to do after high school, he would reply "Fly a plane." Flying was his passion. His face would just light up whenever he would talk about it. I was so happy for him when someone told me that he finally had gotten his pilot's license. He accomplished a dream - something that meant so much to him.

As sad as I am about losing Ron, I have to remember that he loved life, and he loved flying. A lot of people go through life never reaching their dreams and never experiencing their passions. Ron wasn't one of those people. So even though he went to heaven too early for us, he went to heaven smiling and fulfilled. I can imagine him sharing his stories and laughter with God. Heaven will certainly feel his presence. Ron was a special person, and I am honored that he was in my life for a short period of time.

God bless all of you as you go through this time of sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with you. It's hard to understand why it had to happen, but God has promised that he will work all things for good. So let that promise and the promise of eternal life lift and carry you through your sadness.

Linda Paulson

May the Good Lord bless and keep you in his eternal home. Every life is too short at any age, especially when it ended at 43. As the good Lord has called you home so soon, may your angel wings replace your airial wings and enjoy your eternal home forever.
Christ & Diane Jaeger

Dear Milt, Darlene, Holly, Beth, and family:
I was so sorry to hear about Ron's tragic death. He will always be remembered by me as loving life and living it to the fullest. He also will be remembered for having such a big smile and being a wonderful person. Please accept my deepest sympathy during this time of great sorry for your family.
Love,
Chrissie, Gregg, & Courtney

To the entire Erickson family, What an extreme loss for you and everyone who ever came into contact with Ron. You have my sincere sympathy and prayers.
I will miss Ron's "forever smile" and how he always had a hello for me when I was home. He was a wonderful man and good friend.

Lori (Harmon) Belcourt







I am so sorry to hear of ron's passing.
Truely a good man. My thoughts and prayers are with you're family.
Dean Hjelden

My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. Beth has been a good friend of mine for many years and I know how much she loved and cared about Ron and her whole family. I know the friends and family around you will help to carry you through these difficult times.
Ron will always be remembered and missed. The stories and memories can never be taken away. May you always remember the way he laughed and the friendship he gave.
My thoughts are with all of you.

Kelly Gunderson(friend of Beth)

TO RON ERICKSONS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I WAS WITH RON IN HIS LAST MOMENTS, HE TALKED TO ME FROM THE SITE WE PICKED HIM UP! HE WAS ALERT AND MADE EYE CONTACT WITH ME AS I EXPLAINED OUR CARES. HE TOLD ME HIS NAME AND MOUTHED WORDS I COULD'NT UNDERSTAND, I WOULD IMAGINE IT WAS TO TELL YOU ALL HE LOVED YOU. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.

NORTHSTAR FLIGHT NURSE






I just returned from my winter in Texas and was greatly saddened to see that Ron passed away in a plane accident. I always enjoyed working with Ron, Milt and Kenny and know your entire family will really miss Ron. He was a very special person, so involved with his family and community. You are all in my prayers. May God grant you peace at such a difficult time.

Chuck Bauer







My heart goes out to Ron's family for their loss. May you find strength, peace, and comfort from Our Lord and from all your family and friends.
God Bless you all---

Dorothy Johnson
Glasgow, MT



To the Erickson Family,
I am very sorry to hear about Ron's death. I will always remember him as a very good person and a great friend. My best story of Ron is when Todd Toso and I wrapped up Ron in toilet paper before band class right before Thanksgiving break. We got in trouble from the music teacher for it but we had a great laugh doing it. Ron you were a great sport in doing the practical joke and I have told that story to numerous people over the years, it still makes me laugh out loud and puts a smile on my face. That is how I will remember you, you put a lot of smiles on the faces of your family and friends. You will be missed and I will see you again someday, then we will laugh out loud again.
Sincerely,
Brad Reed
West Fargo, ND





To Ron's Family,

"For everything there is a season....." and for all of you now it is a time of terrible loss and grief. There is no answer to the why? of Ron's death. May the memories of his life with you eventually bring comfort.

All our love,
Roberta and Emery Biel





Milt, Darlene and Family

Our thoughts and prayers are with you on the loss of Ron. He was a great guy and I will miss that great devilish smile he always had.

He will be missed.

Dave and Denise Hvinden



I was deeply saddened to hear of Ron's untimely death. He was a wonderful friend to everyone who knew him and he will be greatly missed by all those he touched. I have many great memories of times we shared. My family will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.

Nola Arnold Braaten



As we mourn our loss with Ron's passing, I am comforted by all the memories I have of Ron. He was always a true friend. I especially remember the year he took me deer hunting, when I bagged that monster buck in the field behind his house. Ron and I had a good laugh about that night every time we visited.

Steve Fuller







Milt and Kenny,

I am so sorry. I cannot believe this. I am sure you are feeling the same. The loss of Ron is an incredible loss for this humble earth to bear. It is so true that he touched people that he met. As you know, I've only known him for a little more than a year. He was so vibrant, intelligent, compassionate and such a gentleman. This hardly seems fair. I know God will welcome him with open arms, and Ron will rest in peace knowing he grasped every moment of life on this earth, as he "lived" more than most.

Very Sincerely,
Marhya Fasching





Milton, Darlene, Holly, Beth & Family

Words cannot describe how I feel for you, Ron was the greatest friend, classmate & neighbor a person could ever ask for. As I look back on our school years, there are so many memories that come to mind, but the one Ron and I always talked about, and said we both would never forget was during our Kindergarten year.

One day on our way home from school, Ron's mom was driving and Ron, Jay and I were in the backseat. Ron was in the middle and as we got close to the Isabel turn, he said this was my exit, and opened the door and tried to push me out. Darlene stopped that car so fast and took Ron out of the car and gave him a spanking right there on the hood of the car. When we got back on the road, Ron and I looked at each other and just snickered quietly so his mom would not hear us. The last time we were together Ron shared that story with my kids, and told it in much more detail as it happened, and again we laughed until the tears would just flow.

I do believe God has a special job in mind and he needed a very special person and he picked a Great One, but its hard for us to accept this. Ron will be missed greatly and someday we all will meet again.

Fly High Ron,

God Bless You All,
Kandace(Toso)Johnson





Milt, Darlene, Kenny, Rick, Beth, Holly, and Rob and Kids,
My heart truly goes out to each and every one of you. It is too hard to believe he is gone. Whatever I can remember from when I was younger always involved Ron. He stepped in when my father stepped out and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for everything he did for us, especially for my mom. He is a true man and a Godsend to our family. I will never forget the Christmas's at your house, Darlene, or the many pies he teased us about making. And I will definately never forget about his big icky spiders in his house. I thought of him when we moved into our town house here in town because we had big icky spiders here and I didn't know the proper way to rid of them and I knew Ron would. God bless your family and all the memories you may cherish. I cherish the ones I have. And I will carry them with me always.
Korissa
Korissa Lang, Brandon and Mason Bergrud



Milt, Darlene, Beth, Holly, Kenny & family & friends...
Our thoughts and prayers are with you through this difficult time. It is such a shock to lose him so tragically. He was such a special guy, and will be deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. His visits to the Twin Cities were always a joy. We will never forget him.
The Millers - Burnsville, MN
David, Roberta, Kari, Robb, Pete



I am so sorry to hear the loss of Ron. I know he will be missed dearly by his family and friends. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of grief. May God bless You and your family.

Christine Scott





To the Erickson family.....words cannot hardly ease your pain and we all know that. May you find some comfort in all the great things that Ron has been a part of and some that you will find out about now. He has been a friend of our family for so long and the best "hotdish" eater ever!!! I will treasure my many memories of Ron and will keep you all in our hearts and prayers. Love, Tuppen, Lynn , Brandon and Ryan





Milt, Darlene and Family.
Our love and sympathy to you. In knowing Ron, he had a unique way of showing you that you were his friend. His ready smile, love of life, and concern for his fellow man will be missed. May God bless each of you.

Duane and Phyllis Gronfur,Williston,ND







Erickson family: I will remember Ron and the rest of you from our adventures when we were small at the Gordon Smith gatherings. I especially seem to remember "playing" at the church too! I wanted send hugs and sympathy wishes to all of you.

Annette (Hansen) Rockeman and family









To Ron's Family, I am so so sorry for your huge loss. I will always have wonderful memories of Ron in my heart. He was a joy to be with on the Northern Plains Elec. board for 7 years. He and I had a many of visits about work, flying, family and most of all NPE ideas. The Farmers Union trip to WDC (2000) was the first time I had ever met Ron and what a kind and nice man he was. I know he is flying high in heaven with Jesus. Jesus would take a good man like him to live forever in a heavenly home. I pray for all of you in these next days, months and years to come. You will be thought of. Take care and God bless all of YOU. Mavis Carter @ Rock Lake ND





To the family of Ron Erickson, I had the priviledge of knowing Ron when I was a staff member of the North Dakota REC/RTC Magazine. When I think of Ron, I think of his gentle spirit, his passion for flying, and how much he loved and adored his family. I feel so lucky to have known Ron. He was truly an angel on Earth who touched so many of us with his kindness and his zeal for living. God bless.
Dana Rae Pavek





Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with all the family. As a chemical rep, I am privileged to meet many many people in the agricultural community across the states of MN and ND. Ron was a true ag professional that cared for his customers. It was a pleasure to discuss ag chemicals and even walking a few fields with Ron over the years. I will miss his smiling face at the ag events across the state.

Clint Larson







We are so very sorry about the loss of this special person in your lives. God bless you all as you go on from day to day.
Gary & Ginny Sears





To Ron's family, my heart goes out you . You are in my prayers. He will be missed by all. Colleen DOCKTER




Erickson family, our sincere condolences to you. Milt, we go back a good number of years and I have enjoyed getting to know the rest of your family. Ron and I had many enjoyable conversations at political gatherings, no-till meetings or FU events. I will sorely miss not seeing Ron at those places again. I will also be reminded of him every day as I drive by the crash site on my mail route. Please know that you are in our prayers as you go through this difficult time.

Sanford Slinde





To Rons family,
I will miss Ron, the way he laughed,teased,and the way he became my good friend. Ron was like a brother that I never had,he befriended our children like thew his own.
Ron was special in many ways but mostly because he was just good old Ron.I know your loss is great but always remember Ron was loved by many many people and he will be missed by all of them.
Randy Charlotte and family





Sincere sympathy in the unfortunate death of your son.

Bill Scheer





Milt, Darlene, Holly, and Beth (and your families) - I am at a loss for words but wanted you to know that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. I really wish I could be there today with you. Ron's huge smile and twinkling eyes as he spoke of family and friends showed what a truly kind, sensitive and loyal brother, son, cousin, uncle, and friend he was. I know he left many wonderful memories with everyone and I hope those add some peace to this hard situation.
Karen Schaan







It's 735a in Southern California May 9, 2009. I woke up this morning thinking tomorrow is Mother's Day but today is Ron's Day. While I have moved far away, I think of Maddock and Esmond often. I have to admit that I brag about the quality of the people I grew up with and lived with. Ron and his family was and are at the top of that list. When my sister Mary told me the tragic news, my first thought was of blocking and looking up to see Ron run for a touchdown. It put a smile on my face even though it makes me sad to write it. I guess that's the way life is: the things that make you the happiest can also make you the saddest. Please know the hearts and minds of the Seffrood family are with you all today.

May God be with you.

paul





Milton,Darlene, and Family:
Our thoughts are with you today, as the lose of a son/child comes with a great deal of pain.
We have walked this path with the death of our son Paul.
Keep your family and friends close and take care.

Rachel & Allen Rudel





Milt, Darlene and family,
Memories of those we love live forever in our hearts. No one can fully understand your sorrow but know many thoughts and prayers are with you.
May the Lord give you his strength in the days ahead. Our deepest sympathy. Ansel and Peggy Hakanson





Although Ron will be missed, the precious memories you have of him will continue on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Sending my sympathy
Kristin Oakland Maxwell
(Todd's sister)





Milt and Darlene

I will miss Ron. Ron was the kind of person that everyone liked. He was entertaining, informative, and always had a smile. I got to know Ron a little better after we both spent a extended time in Washington DC after the 9/11 attack. We both learned from that experience and had more respect for the lives we both lived. Ron life was cut short, but he did live his life to the fullest.
May he rest in peace.

Woody Barth






To the Family of Ron Erickson:

So sorry to hear of your loss. God Bless All of you during this time of sorrow.

Kathy & Dave Bjornstad







To the Erickson Family,

We cannot express our sympathy enough to tell you how much Ron will be missed. Ron made an impression on both young and old, and our boys will miss him greatly. Ron was a celebrity in their eyes as who else did they know that was on You Tube? Ron hand delivered a DVD with the videos on it and everyone who has come into our house has been an audience member to the "Ron Movie." Grant has been praying for Ron since last summer and at Thanksgiving he was thankful for Ron. One of the last visits Grant had with Ron was here at our house and Grant was showing Ron all his treasures and Ron was eating it up. Grant told him then that he was thankful for him. I am so happy that Ron stopped that day and knew that he was loved by a little boy.

Jeff and Jennifer Hagen
Gunnar, Grant and Gracie





To Ron's Family,

I knew Ron through the Co-op house at NDSU. He was very outgoing and in the middle of whatever was going on.

I am sorry to hear about his passing.

With deepest sympathies,

Enno Limvere






Holly, Beth, Darlene & Milt ~
My family sends you much love and support during this difficult time. It was so sad to hear about Ron's death. Please know that we are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. Darianne, Brad and family also send their love and prayers. Wishing you peace and much laughter as you share and remember the experiences had with Ron.

Janeen Nichols, Mark Trechock, Lex, Chan & Nate







Milt & Darlene and family Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lee and Roberta Jacobson





To Ron's Family:



I am one of Ron's and Bob's college buddies at NDSU.  We spent many nights at the Co-op house talking about flying and farming.  I just heard about this tragic event in the NDSU Brief as I live in North Carolina and do not get local Dakota news.  My condolences to their families.  See you in heaven!

Jim Martel