C. Lloyd Erickson

Funeral Services for C. Lloyd Erickson will be conducted from the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend David Sites and Darrel Wissmann, PMA, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Carl "Lloyd" Erickson, 75 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2008 at the Holdrege Memorial Homes. Lloyd was born May 2, 1933 at Holdrege, the youngest of two children of Carl A. and Lillian M. (Olson) Erickson. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Holdrege and received his primary education at District #53. Lloyd then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1951. Following his education, he enlisted into the United States Navy during the Korean War.

Following his honorable discharge, Lloyd then returned home to Phelps County, where he engaged in farming and cattle feeding northeast of Holdrege. A lifelong occupation that he enjoyed. In 1955, he was united in marriage to Peggy Johnson of Holdrege and to this union one son, Chris was born in 1962. As a young man, Lloyd was an active member of the Sod Busters Saddle Club, and enjoyed much time calf roping, team roping and trick riding.

On August 17, 1974 he was united in marriage to Gloria Grothen of Holdrege. They worked together in the farming operation and shared a passion for the outdoors. He was an avid sportsman, loved to hunt and fish and held membership to many sportsman organizations. He and his wife, Gloria enjoyed big game hunting. Acquiring the Grand Slam of North American Wild Sheep was an achievement Lloyd was proud of.

In 1991, the farming operation received the Master Conservation Award from the Omaha World Herald and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL. In 2005, he was awarded the Pioneer Feeder Award from Phelps-Gosper Livestock Growers Association.

He was a life long member of the Bethel Lutheran Church, where he served as Deacon on the church council and Trustee of Bethel Foundation. Lloyd was elected to the CNPPID Board of Directors in 1987, serving on the board for 18 years. He also served on the Phelps County Development Corp. and was a member of the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Gloria; son, Chris Erickson and his wife, Caroline; one grandson, Caden all of Holdrege; two brothers-in-law: Gary Grothen and his wife, Joyce of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Neil Grothen and his wife, Joyce of Hastings, Nebraska; niece, Gaila Prill and her husband, Sam of Rapid City, South Dakota; nephew, Grant Grothen and his wife, Brenda of Overland Park, Kansas; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Leland Erickson.

Lloyd will lie in state at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home at Holdrege on Monday, December 22, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Memorials have been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the Bethel Lutheran Church or the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.