William "Bill" Bernell Erickson

William “Bill” Bernell Erickson, 70, passed away at Peace Hospice on May 25, 2020, after complications from an infection. Bill was born on June 12, 1949, in Great Falls, Montana to a large “farmily” in Power, Montana. He attended grade school and high school in Power, graduating in 1967. Summers of 1968 and 1969, Bill worked at Anaconda Copper Reduction Center in Great Falls on the electric tram track crew and as a laborer. He then graduated University of Montana in Missoula with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education, History and Political Science, with a minor in Economics. For the summers from 1970 to 1974, Bill worked as Camp Caretaker for the Montana Farmers Union Camp in the Highwood Mountains.He also worked as Director of Education for Montana Farmers Union in Great Falls, at Trans Systems (Rice Trucking). Bill and Sally then moved to upstate New York where they had a grape vineyard in Penn Yan from 1985 to 2011. While in New York, Bill was an EMT, volunteering with the Penn Yan Ambulance Corps and with the Branchport Fire Department. He married Sally Marchant in 1972, and they were married for 37 years. Bill always loved to help people and tell stories. Visiting with folks was his passion and we suspect, later in life, his dream job would have been a greeter at Walmart. He moved back to Montana in 2011. He lived on the family homestead and in Power until 2016, at which time he moved into the Skyline Lodge in Choteau, MT. Bill is survived by two brothers, Don Erickson of Dixon, CA and James Erickson of Helena, MT; sister, Colleen Erickson of East Glacier Park; and lots of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends both here and in New York. In lieu of flowers, if you wish to donate, please donate to Power Harvest Fest (1151 2nd Road NE, Power, MT59468) or Montana Farmers Union Camp Program (PO Box 2447, Great Falls, MT59403) or a charity of your choice.