Date of Birth:
Saturday, February 12, 1944
Date of Death:
Monday, June 23, 2025
Age:
81 years old

Mary D. Erickson

Mary Erickson (Jacob) (Orke) passed away peacefully at home on Monday June 23, 2025, after a struggle with cancer that she couldn’t win.  She was 81 years old. 

Mary was born February 12, 1944, in Lake City, MN. She was the second of four children born to Fred and Lucy (Meyer) Jacob. She felt lucky to grow up in beautiful Lake City surrounded by all of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friend, Connie. 

During high school Mary was asked to work at the soda fountain in Wheeler/Kennedy Drug Store. It was a job that she loved, as she felt so much a part of the community (and it was air-conditioned). 

After graduating from Lincoln High School in 1962 she attended the UofM, where she earned a degree in Home Economics Education. While at the university, she met and married Don Orke in 1964. After both had completed their educations, they made Rochester their home. In 1968 their daughter, Lisa, was born.  

In the years that followed, Don pursued his career as Director of Parks for Rochester and Mary taught at Kellogg Junior High School. As laws changed in 1975, both boys and girls were required to take home economics and industrial arts classes. This meant a major revision of curricula. Mary went back to the UofM to obtain her Master’s Degree in Education, and write new curriculum with colleague and close friend, Martha Schwartz. Mary also enrolled in woodworking and metals classes, to experience what her students were learning. 

The years progressed, Lisa graduated and went off to college, and Mary filled the void by obtaining a Master’s Degree in School Counseling. This earned her the title of Education Specialist within the Rochester school system. She was an exemplary teacher, never failed a student and always went above and beyond for each student.  Mary was also very involved with TLC, an indoor pet kennel they owned.  They divorced in 1994. 

 Mary was fortunate to meet Norm Erickson at Toastmasters. They fell in love and were married December 28, 1996.  Norm worked at IBM and Mary continued teaching until 2001.  She was saddened when the life skills classes of Industrial Technology and FACS (Home Economics) were eliminated in Rochester Middle Schools in 2011. During their first 10 years of marriage, Mary worked with Norm to create needed affordable housing for nursing students in Rochester. Together they bought and remodeled several properties.  

When 2009 rolled around, Norm “retired” from IBM for the second time. He and Mary had started a small hazelnut farm in Lake City, and they decided it was time to move back to her hometown. Back in Lake City, Mary enjoyed reconnecting with her family, high school friends, joining her beloved garden club and getting to know her wonderful neighbors.  

Mary is survived by her husband, Norm Erickson, daughter Lisa Orke, grandson Jacob Berg, sisters Georgia (Tony) Zugay and family, Susan (Randy) Eggenberger and family, brother John (Lani) Jacob and family, her uncle Paul Meyer and lots of wonderful cousins. Her second family includes stepsons Aaron, Jason and Evan Erickson and stepdaughter Andrea (Kevin) Birr, Norm’s two brothers, Alan and Steven Erickson and their families. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, stepbrother, Phillip Erickson and stepsister, Francine Parker. 

As Mary was a long-time participant in the Study on Aging, her body will be donated to Mayo Clinic and there will be no formal funeral at this time.  

She would like to thank all her friends and family for their kind and thoughtful cards and calls.