To the Family of Tyrone Erickson:

I want to express my deepest sympathy to Ty's family for your loss.

I grew up with Ty in Brainerd, Minnesota. We were very good friends throughout our elementary, middle and high school years. He wasn't known as "Ty" then. His nick name during those school years was "Tiny." Where did the name Tiny come from? We played on the elementary school basketball team together and he was the smallest player. By the time we reached high school, however, he may have had the broadest shoulders in school . . . so "Tiny" really didn't fit anymore.

We lived in the same neighborhood in southeast Brainerd, MN. Southeast Brainerd was affectionately known as "Frog Town" because of the huge swamp that existed there. Ty and I took many exciting hikes and built several "secret forts" in that swamp. He recently reminded me that we taught each other how to ride a bike on a grassy slope in Frog Town.

Following elementary school, Ty became very interested in music. After a great deal of work, he became a very talented drummer . . . and could do a very good impression of Gene Krupa, a popular drummer at that time. He also loved to play the trumpet. One of his hero's was the famous trumpet player, Harry James.

Ty brought his musical talent to Brainerd High School. He played in the school band and was well know for his talent on the drums and trumpet. It soon became apparent Ty was well liked and had become a real leader. He was elected Class President in both his junior and senior year in high school. In addition he was voted the school's best dancer, best instrumentalist, best groomed . . . in addition to being the best leader. It was not surprising for me to read remarks from his former students about the meaningful contributions he made in their lives.

Three years after graduating from high school, Ty was a groomsman in my wedding (1959). My wife and I honeymooned in southern Minnesota and dropped by Ty's special house in Zumbro Falls. I remember how proud Ty was of that house, and how happy he was to be living there. I must confess, it was a unique place where I wouldn't mind living.

A year later, I accepted a teaching job in California and moved west. For the next several decades I had no communication with Ty. On December 13,2013 I wrote Ty a letter and told him he was on my "bucket list" and that I wanted to see him in the near future. I was planning a visit to Minnesota this summer and would be passing through the Zumbro Falls in early July. I didn't hear from him for 2-3 weeks. I was about to call him. Then he called. He told me about his battle with cancer and that he hoped to be around to see me in July. In the following 4 or 5 months I talked with him on the phone several times and corresponded by letter/card. During our last conversation (about 4 weeks ago), he informed me he was receiving hospice care . . . and talked about what a great job they were doing.

I will truly miss my old friend!

Tom Jacobson
Mission Viejo, CA

To family and friends,

I wanted to send out my sympathy to those who knew Mr. Erickson. He was my 4th grade teacher (late 1970s), and while I can recall all my teachers, Mr. Erickson was the most positively impactful teacher during my elementary years. So much so, that I have remembered him with respectful endearment over time and continue to regard him as my favorite teacher during those years of schooling.  He was not a glorified corraller of little people, but was the first teacher who asked "What do you think about what you read?" and thus, the first person whoever seemed interested in not only helping his students understand a story we worked on for class, but wanting to hear what our reactions were, which were not right or wrong, they were just ours, and he was interested.  I will always remember "Where the Red Fern Grows" with him in mind.  He cared about his students, and that made a world of difference. 

Wish you all love, light, and peace,

Niki

I would also like to add how much Ty had a positive impact on my life. I was fortunate to have Ty as my 4th Grade teacher.  Ty was a person who I looked up to, teaching me and many others to be a responsible and caring person.  I remember shortly after Karl was born, Sharon and Karl came and visited the classroom.  Ty was very proud of his family and shared many stories with the classroom.  Ty truly cared about the people that surrounded him.  Ty was simply one of the best and will be truly missed. 

I send my sincerest sympathies to the family and children of Ty Erickson.  I do hope to come to the visitation if at all possible, from my home in Winona.  My remembrances of the Erickson family are so very special, as I used to babysit Jess, Angie, Ben and baby Will when I was in high school, this while Judy and Ty were together.  I haven't seen you in so many years and would love to see you again, tho I know Jess passed so long ago now.  So well I remember the house down by "Ryan's Bay", all the trees surrounding it, the big German shepherd they used to have.  He scared me.  I can still see the faces of you kids, and your faces when I mistakenly took wine out of the fridge and served it up, thinking it was Kool Aid.  You all will never know what a memory of joy I have had remembering you over the years.  I'm so sorry to hear that Ty battled cancer.  But cancer can never rob you of the memories you will greatly treasure going forward of your father.  May you feel the amazing presence of the  Lord's arms around you during this time.

Ranetta Lang

651-380-5748 

I offer my sincere condolences to the Erickson family. So very sorry to read about Ty's passing. He was a great man and neighbor out at the lake.

I was just thinking about Mr. Erickson last week and thought, as I have many times, I need to write him a letter and tell him how much he impacted my life as my 4th grade teacher. As life goes, I didn't do it and now wish I had. Although it was "only" 4th grade, he taught us lessons that were life lessons. I remember him saying, "When you point a finger at someone, there are 3 pointing back." He also taught us how to play chess - what an incredible gift to give a 10 year old. He would also read to us every day after lunch and I loved how he would take the book cover and make it into a transparency which we would then project up onto the wall and trace onto a giant piece of paper and eventually hang around the room with the other book cover posters.  

He was an amazing teacher, and I remember him talking so lovingly of his family. I'm sorry for your loss and thank you all for sharing him with us at Bamber Valley. He will be missed by so many.

Sheri and family,

My heart is saddened by your loss.  Ty was such a great man, wonderful husband and father and will be missed by everyone who ever knew him.