Donald C. Erickson, 80, rural Hazelton, ND died September 30, 2022 at Sanford Health, Bismarck.  Cremation will take place and a visitation will be held from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM with a Prayer service at 4:00 PM on Friday, October 7, 2022 at the Sannes Feist Family Funeral Home, Linton with Pastor Sean Barnhart officiating.  There will be a visitation beginning at 1:00 PM Sunday at the American Legion in Wheaton.  Graveside services will be held at 2:30 PM on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at the Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton, MN.  Following the graveside service there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments from 3:00 PM until 5:00 at the American Legion in Wheaton.

In lieu of flowers and donations, memorials be directed to https://www.ericksonmerkel.org/ care of the Donald Erickson scholarship.

Donald Charles Erickson was born September 24, 1942 in Wheaton, Minnesota, the son of Hilding and Myrtle Erickson.  He grew up farming with his parents on their farm in rural Norcross, MN and attended grade school and high school in Wheaton, MN.  He graduated in 1960 and continued farming with his parents and honing all the skills required of a farmer and rancher while doing all the other things young men enjoyed.

He joined the Army in 1963, but following the death of his father Hilding, he was provided a hardship discharge to return home. He took over the family farm, although he did remain in the Army Reserve, serving until 1969.

He was introduced to Susan McGuire by his cousin Carol Hamann, and they were married in 1971.  Their marriage produced 3 sons in rapid succession, and eventually a 4 ^th son.  Ugh!. They provided lots of (free) labor for the farm, all developing a love of the work and the outdoors.

Donald moved his family west in 1991, to a farm outside of Hazelton, ND, near the banks of the Missouri, to focus on ranching.  He loved the rolling hills and wide open spaces, and not being on a tractor for 14 hours a day.  Donald loved the outdoors, particularly when it was with his horses and cattle.  Apparently, they didn't give him any back talk.

Although he moved to Hazelton, he spent many falls heading back to Wheaton to help the Beyers during beet harvest, where apparently spending 14 hours in a truck or on a tractor wasn't so bad...  Legends tell of his ability to hold attention around the table as he spun a yarn to his coworkers.

Eventually, a lifetime spent avoiding doctors and dentists at all costs wound up taking its toll, and when he finally decided to "retire," he required surgery to one hip, then a double bypass, then surgery on the other hip, along with some "minor nuisance ailments."  The surgeries all went well, and his time spent immobilized indoors at Ben's house did nothing to temper his desire to be home at the ranch.  It did, however, help to renew his faith in the concern and abilities of others, and generally, in humanity.

Once springtime came, Donald continued living on his ranch, preferring the solitude it provided and the company of his horses, to the hustle and bustle of life close to town, with the peace being interrupted periodically by his longtime battle against a neighborhood gang of raccoons.  He passed away following complications after an incident doing what he loved - spending time with his horses; in this case, trying to convince a young colt that he really did want to be in the trailer.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Hilding and Myrtle.  He is survived by his son, Ben (Ida) and their children, Dillon, Isabella, and Lane; his son Erik (Kelly) and their children, Makayla, Makenzie, Logan, and Easton; his son Matt (Mandy) and their children, Thor and Kaysa; his son Chris; and his ex-wife Susan.  Donald always came to life in their company, and they most certainly loved him and miss him.