Obituary of Doris Ellinor Erickson
Doris Ellinor Erickson
(November 11, 1931 - July 29, 2021)
Doris Ellinor Erickson of St. Albert, Alberta, formerly of Bawlf, passed away on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at the age of 89 years.
Doris was born to Axel and Palma Liden in Edberg, baptized, and confirmed at the Swedish Lutheran Church in Meeting Creek. She received her early education at Rosebush and Edberg and attended U of A to receive a teaching certificate. She was the first Grade 1 teacher in the new addition at Bawlf School.
She met her first husband Art, while walking to the school. He would be hauling milk to the cheese factory and would frequently pick her up and drive her to school. Romance blossomed and they married July 3, 1954. They initially resided at the Selness farm, where their first child Lynne was born. The following year, in 1957, they bought the house south of Highway 13, across from Bawlf. Here Les was born, followed by Marlis and Murray. The family moved to the Erickson farm two miles east of Bawlf, where they moved in with Mel while a new house was being built. Art died January 12, 1967. Doris and her kids moved into the new house in the summer of 1967. She had her hands full, raising four children and looking after her garden. A second romance began, and Doris married Mel August 16, 1969. They continued to farm while Doris substituted at Bawlf School. Her life was busy driving the kids to basketball, baseball, hockey, and volleyball games, but she was their most avid fan, whooping loudly from the sidelines.
Doris and Mel moved off the farm, into Bawlf, in 1987. Doris’s mom Palma moved in with them and when her health failed, Doris looked after her until Palma died in 1993. Mel’s health declined and Doris once again became caregiver for him, until he passed away in 1995. Doris remained active in the community, especially with the Bawlf Lutheran Church, where she was involved with the Ladies Aid, taught Sunday School, led VBS, and sang and directed the choir. She was a fabulous gardener, and she enjoyed her cat Grey, crocheting and doing crossword puzzles. She would literally whistle while she worked. She also canvased for different Foundations. Grandkids and neighborhood kids would stop in for her homemade cookies or bologna sandwiches and macaroni.
In 2012, Doris sold her home in Bawlf and moved to St. Albert to live with Marlis and Wilf. She became very active with her gardening and sang in the St. Albert church choir. She loved to attend concerts and enjoyed all her visits with her eleven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, family and new friends. We all fondly called her “GG,” Great Grandma. She treasured the phone conversations with her kids, favorite nieces, and old friends. Doris was able to travel to Switzerland two times, France, Germany, and Italy, and joined the family in Panorama for the annual ski trip in March. Even though she didn’t like being the main attraction, she thoroughly enjoyed her surprise 85th birthday party, where over 100 people celebrated with her. She was loved and admired for her strength and faithful heart, smiling face, sense of humor, sweetness, special laugh and warm, and welcoming personality.
Her health started to decline, living with Parkinson’s and Macular Degeneration, but her faith in God helped her with this and with the help of her family and loving caregivers Jamie, Erika, Mel, Joan and Grace, she was able to die peacefully in her home in St. Albert.
She will be missed by all who knew her.
A private family service was held, click on the link below to view the recording of the service:
https://vimeo.com/588047645/bb51cb1b88
If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Doris's memory may be made to the Bawlf Lutheran Church or to the Canadian Bible Society.
