BioA: Erickson, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas (Golden - 1966)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Erickson, Gilbertson, Myhrwold, Voie, Rear, Ulsrud, Vinger, Besand, Verhulst, Caliebe, Hegenbarth, Montenfel, Lyon, Wittwer, Olson, Slotten, Breisath, Thompson, Vamstad, Evanson, Edwards, Danielson, Wendt, Urdahl

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) 3/3/1966

Erickson, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas (Golden - 23 February 1966)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Erickson of Greenwood celebrated their golden wedding anniversary February 27 in the parlors of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Festivities began at 2 p.m. with a program. The Rev. Arvid Myhrwold read from the scriptures and gave a prayer.  He and Mrs. Myhrwold sang two duets.  Mrs. Otto Voie read the family history. The program closed with remarks by a nephew, Grant Rear of Minneapolis.

Vases of gold chrysanthemums adorned the altar, and in the church dining room, the tables for the reception.

Mrs. Erickson and her attendant wore white corsages with gold accessories pinned to their ensembles.  Mr. Voie and their only son, Burnell, wore white boutonnieres. The only attendant of 50 years ago was Mrs. Erickson’s sister, Mrs. Maurice (Mabel) Ulsrud of Argyle. Martin Erickson, the other attendant could not attend.

Lunch was served to approximately 160 relatives and friends at 3 p.m.  A three-tiered wedding cake, which served as a centerpiece, was cut by Mrs. Palmer Vinger and Mrs. Dorothy Besand.  Mrs. Clarence Verhulst and Mrs. George Caliebe poured.  Mrs. Edwin Hegenbarth was in charge of the guest book.

Present for the occasion was the couple’s son and 10 of their 19 grandchildren and one great-grandchild - Mr. and Mrs. Burnell Erickson and children, John, Jeanette, Jill, Joan, Janice and Mrs. William (Joyce) Montenfel and husband of Pardeeville; Mr. and Mrs. Jerald Erickson of Portage; Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Lyon and family of Milwaukee; Mrs. Maurice Ulsrud and son, Kenneth, Mrs. Dorothy Besand and son, Roger, of Argyle; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wittwer of Monticello; Mr. and Mrs. Grant Rear and son, Gary, and Miss Arlene Olson of Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Rear of Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Arlie Olson of Blanchardville; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Slotten of Mt. Horeb; Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Rear of Verona; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Breisath and family of Monroe; Edward Gilbertson and son, Fred, of Mineral Point; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thompson of Thorp; Mr. and Mrs. Brady Vamstad of Withee; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Evanson of Neillsville; Mrs. Louis Edwards and Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. David Danielson, Arendt Danielson and Mr. and Mrs. John Olson of Loyal; Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Wendt of Owen and many friends from the surrounding area.

Mr. Erickson, son of Andrew and Bertha Erickson, was born May 30, 1889, in Balder, Norway.  He came to the United States with his parents at the age of four. They settled in Blanchardville, where he received his education and later worked as a farm laborer.

Mrs. Erickson, nee Clara Gilbertson, daughter of Ole and Mary Gilbertson, was born November 6, 1892, near Argyle. She received her education in the Adams Township School.

After their marriage the Erickson’s lived for two years on a farm in Blanchardville. They came to Greenwood in 1918 and farmed until they retired in 1934; then moved into the city of Greenwood.

The couple, who received a purse of money and many gifts and congratulatory messages, was married February 23, 1916, at the Blanchardville Lutheran church parsonage by the Rev. H. J. Urdahl.