John Erickson

John Hans Erickson, 90, of Frenchtown, Montana passed away on Thursday July 4, 2024 at home.

He was born on December 31, 1933 in Warwick, North Dakota to Ernest and Myrtle Erickson. As a young boy, he lived on the family farm and he attended school in Page, North Dakota. Then he enlisted in the Army, building roads in Alaska. He was honorably discharged and went to work for the Burlington Northern Railroad.

On June 23, 1957, John married Wini Danielson in Valley City, North Dakota. They recently celebrated their 67th Anniversary.

John went to work in the Meat Department for Super Value in Fargo North Dakota.

A vacation in 1960 changed it all as he was offered a job as a Butcher at the Johnson Street Market by Beryl Mahlum. In 1963, John went to work for Super Save in Missoula, Montana. Then he became a partner with Beryl Mahlum in Diamond Bar Meats in 1968. John owned and operated Diamond Bar Meats until his retirement in 1996.

He bought his first horse, Smokey, in 1961 riding him from the Missoula Stockyard to his family home in lower Linda Vista. He learned to calf rope (which is now called tie down roping) by Bud Henderson. He loved being a cowboy, and rode in rodeos from Pablo, Montana to Calgary, Alberta Canada to the Houston Astro Dome, and numerous places in between. In later years he took up team roping. John loved participating and watching Rodeos all his life. He was a member of the PRCA.

John was a faithful member of Atonement Lutheran Church and Valley of Christ Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the Sons of Norway.

He enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in their various activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Ole, Larry and Wayne; sisters Vivian and Joyce.

John is survived by his wife Wini; children Jay (Sue), Hiedi (Tim), Colleen, Mark (Starla Riley) and Starla; grandchildren John, Jeff (Shayna), Julie (Ian), Conor (Kelsey), Sean (Annie), Brittany (Eric), Thomas, and Amanda (Alex); greatgrandchildren Aiden, Gage, Ella, Sage, Maxwell and Isabelle; special niece Judy and sisters, Karen and Mary Ann.

John was a one-of-a-kind, a true cowboy, hard worker, and a family man with an enormous heart of gold who will be missed dearly, loved deeply and will be remembered forever.

A funeral service will take place on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church in Missoula.