John "Roger" Erickson

Havre resident John “Roger” Erickson, age 84, passed away on July 12, 2022, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, MT. Cremation has taken place. A memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church (803 Illinois St. Chinook, MT). Immediately following the service, military honors will commence, and a celebration of life/birthday party will follow at the church rectory. John was born on August 23, 1937, in Rolla, ND to Fred and Hertha (Banse) Erickson. In 1944 the Erickson family moved from their North Dakota farm to Chinook, MT when John started the second grade. As a sixth grader, John started his employment adventures with Mann’s Bakery, frosting maple bars and delivering bread to the grocery stores with his red wagon. As soon as he earned enough money to pay his dental bill, he left his job for fun and games with his friends. All throughout high school he was employed by Herb’s Toggery delivering dry-cleaning and learning the fine art of dodging dogs, only to be bitten once! John graduated from Chinook High School in 1955 and enlisted in the US Navy. He was honorably discharged after serving on the USS Moctobi (ATF-105) from 1956 to 1957. After the military he continued to work for Herb’s Toggery before going to Chicago to attend the Coyne Electrical Institute to be certified as a TV and Appliance serviceman. He returned to Chinook and worked at the Farmer’s Union in their service department and freelanced as a self-employed electrical repairman. When John was growing up in Chinook, he would go fishing with Frank Schend, not knowing that he would marry Frank’s daughter Beatrice. John and Bea married in 1961 and have 3 children, Nancy, Aaron, and Heidi. They made their home in Chinook until John was hired by Intermountain Microwave in 1970. The family moved to Cut Bank, MT where they lived for two years before being transferred to Havre, MT. After his employment with Intermountain Microwave, he worked 8 years at Cenex as a purchasing agent. When Bea’s parents passed away, he farmed the Anna H. Palmer family farm of Kremlin, MT until it sold in 1996, and he retired. John was known as a man who could fix anything. He enjoyed fixing electronics, working on his computer, fishing, camping, and playing with his grandsons.He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Lorraine Steinmetz of Cheyenne, WY, Donald Erickson of Chinook, MT, Fred Erickson of Big Fork, MT, and Irma Jean Tweedy of Cut Bank, MT. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Beatrice; son, Aaron Erickson of Tualatin, OR; daughters, Nancy (Doug) Pederson of Meridian, ID and Heidi (Jerry) Fisk of Beaverton, OR; grandsons, Myles and Matthew Pederson of Meridian, ID and Justin Fisk of Beaverton, OR; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Havre Boys & Girls Club (500 1st Ave, Havre, MT 59501) or a charity of your choice.