Marilyn Zelma Erickson

Marilyn Z. Erickson, age 87, of Alexandria, died on Friday, July 12, 2024, surrounded by her family at home under the care of Douglas County Hospice.

 A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Alexandria Covenant Church in Alexandria with Rev. Trinity Opp and Rev. Gregg Donnelly presiding. Music will be provided Karen Hurlbut and Sue Johnson. Interment will take place at Lake Florida Cemetery, New London.

 The visitation is 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Marilyn Zelma was born on November 17, 1936, to Lester and Elvira (Hallin) Taggart in New Solum Township, rural Thief River Falls. At the age of seven, she gave her life to Jesus as her Savior and her faith directed the remainder of her life. She worked as a soda jerk at Parkins Corner Drug Store and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954. Marilyn was united in marriage to Jim Erickson on March 18, 1955, at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls. They were blessed with three children, Pamela, Michael, and Patricia. Following their marriage, she worked at S&L Department Store until moving to the Iron Range in 1957. They returned to Thief River Falls in 1959, where Marilyn worked retail. Marilyn and Jim moved to Champlin where she worked as a receptionist for the city of Anoka. Later, they returned to Thief River Falls where she worked as an executive secretary at the day/night unit at the hospital, and later sold real estate. They moved to Moorhead where she was a secretary for Bethel Free Church in Fargo. In the late 1980’s, Marilyn retired and began traveling on the road with Jim, a constant encouragement and support. In the late 1990’s, they moved to live on Long Lake Hawick and enjoyed their time there until moving to Alexandria in 2004, on Ashley Court before moving to the Senator in 2014. Marilyn was a member of Alexandria Covenant Church and its Koffee Kare Fellowship. Marilyn’s gift of ministry was to encourage others as was her ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. She was a prayer warrior and loved spending time with family and friends, especially celebrating holidays together. She was a former member of Mission Covenant Church in Thief River Falls, Redeemer Covenant Church in Brooklyn Center, Bethel Free Church in Fargo, New London Covenant Church, Christian Woman’s Club, and Red Hat Society. Marilyn and Jim owned & operated Country Peddlers from the 1960’s to the current selling antiques and collectibles. Occasionally, she enjoyed modeling clothing and in her younger years, sang and traveled to revival meetings throughout Northern Minnesota with her sisters, Dorothy and Ivadelle.

 She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim in March of 2024; two brothers, Duane and James Taggart; two sisters, LaVonne “Dolly” Gray and Carol Teigen; son-in-law, Robert Wilke; grandson, Benjamin Erickson; and great-grandson, Isaiah Nixon.

 Marilyn is survived by her son, Michael (Connie) Erickson of New London; two daughters, Pamela Wilke of Watertown, Wisconsin and Patricia (Larry) Peterson of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada; four sisters, Ivadelle (Robert) Myhrer of Lakeland, Florida, Dorothy Johnson of Coon Rapids, Lois Larson of Cambridge, and Fae (Eugene) Backlund of Redwood Falls; two sisters-in-law, Marlene Taggart of New Folden and Sharon Taggart of Greenbush; brother-in-law, Charles Erickson of Alexandria; seven grandchildren, Jamie (Christopher) Fischer, Kelly Dunlap, Emily (Alan) Detjen, Christopher (Sara) Erickson, Daniel (Tammy) Peterson, Jordan (Leah) Peterson, and Joel (Ruth-Ann) Peterson; 11 great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

A special thank you to Hospice of Douglas County for their amazing care, love and support shown to Marilyn and her family during this time.