Florence V. Erickson, 99 formerly of Arcadia went to be with her Lord on August 26, 2010 in Charlotte, NC.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church in Arcadia with the Reverends Allan Brown and Chuck Myer officiating. Burial will be in the Balsora Cemetery south of Arcadia. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the church. Memorials are suggested to Calvary Baptist Church of Arcadia. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Florence Viola was born on February 12, 1911 in Daykin, NE to Viola and Elmer Forney. She grew up there and received her education from the Daykin Public Schools graduating from high school with the class of 1928. These were years of the Great Depression but Florence was privileged to go to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for further education. In1935 she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music degree majoring in music and a minor in Latin and English.
In September 1935 Florence accepted the position of teaching vocal music and Latin in the Ravenna, NE schools. She then went on to teach in Mullin, NE, learning more about Sand Hills life of ranchers in western NE.
On July 11, 1937 Florence Forney and Kermit Erickson were married at the Forney family home at Daykin, NE. They made their home in Arcadia, NE where Kermit was an established agent for the New York Life Insurance Company. To this union two children were born; Patricia Jean and Kermit Roland.
Music teachers have always been a scarce commodity and through the years while the family was growing up, Florence did substitute teaching. When Pat and Kermit “Sonny” finished high school, Florence went back to classroom teaching in Arcadia and taught 13 1/2 years in the Ord, NE public schools. She retired in 1975.
Piano lessons were a part of growing up in those years so there was always a demand for piano lessons. Florence taught in Comstock, NE as well as in Arcadia for many years.
Florence was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Arcadia where she was active in church activities. She directed the choir, was president of Mission Circle and in later years was the organist. She was undoubtedly welcomed into heaven with a hearty “well done, good and faithful servant.”
Florence was always interested in community activities and was a charter member of The Arcadia Garden Club. She loved flowers, gardening and arranging the flowers for the Flower Show which was a big part of her life. She was a member of the Homemakers Club which sponsored the Thursday Morning Coffee. She was always ready to help and pray for the concerns of the day.
In April, 2008, at age 97, Florence moved to Charlotte, NC so she could be near family to assist her. It was hard to leave Arcadia after 71 years in the same home but she had many fond memories of her life in Arcadia.
Florence was preceded in death by her husband Kermit Roland Erickson, Sr., her parents Viola and Elmer Forney, brothers, Rolin Forney and Dr. Lester Forney, sister, Helen Forney Damke, great grandson Brian David Erickson and grandson-in-law Robert (Bob) Schulte.
She is survived by daughter Patricia Erickson Butt (Merlin) of Crete, NE; son Kermit Erickson (Kathleen) of Charlotte, NC, Grandchildren Melodee Butt Rongstad of Leadville, CO and Mark Erickson of Lincoln, NE; Donna Erickson Schulte of Medina, OH; Ann Erickson Bartscher (Devon) of Alexandria, SD. Great-grandchildren surviving her are Kevin and Erica Schulte of OH; Jared, Jacob, and Josie Bartscher of SD; Reve Erickson of Lincoln, NE and Jarrett and Kyle Rongstad of Leadville, CO.
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