Colette S Erickson

Mass of Christian Burial for Colette S. Erickson will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Father Thomas Lux officiating. Rosary will be held at the church prior to services, Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.  Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege following the services.

Colette Susanna Erickson, 99 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Monday, March 7, 2016 at the Holdrege Memorial Homes.  She was born December 31, 1916, northwest of Axtell, Nebraska in Kearney County, the sixth of nine children born to John William and Mary Catherine (Reinhart) Schneider.  She received her primary education from the Prairie Rose District #11 in Phelps County, attended Kearney High School for a short time before completing her education at Axtell High School.

On August 26, 1940, she was united in marriage to Wallace A. Erickson at the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege and to this union eight children were born: Betty, James, John "Jack", Wallace "Ed", Mark, Gerard "Jerry", Thomas, and Donald.  Together with Wally's three sons:  Harold, LaVern "Chink" and Roy "Buss", the family was made complete.

The family made their home in Holdrege, where Colette focused her efforts on being a homemaker.  In 1942, the family relocated to Richmond, California and in 1945 they returned to Holdrege, where they established Erickson Electric Company.  After the children were raised, she began working for Erickson Electric as the bookkeeper.  Wally preceded her in death in July of 1989.  In 2007, Colette began to make her home at Holdrege Memorial Homes, where she resided until her passing.

Colette was a lifelong member of the All Saints Catholic Church and was a member of the Altar Society. She enjoyed playing cards and was an avid golfer in her younger years.

Besides her parents and husband, Wally, Colette was preceded in death by four children:  James Erickson, John "Jack" Erickson and two children in infancy; three step-sons:  Roy Erickson, Harold Erickson and LaVern "Chink" Erickson; four brothers:  Matt Schneider and his wife, Roberta, Jack Schneider, Anthony Schneider, and one in infancy; sisters:  Sister Seraphia Erickson, Mary Kronin and husband, William, Agnes Schneider and a sister in infancy.

She leaves to celebrate her life, her children: Betty Dahlgren and her husband, Robert of Bertrand, Ed Erickson and his wife, Janice of Holdrege, Mark Erickson and his wife, Alice of Wellington, Kansas, Jerry Erickson of Holdrege, Thomas Erickson and friend Deb, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Donald Erickson and his wife, Susan of Holdrege; two daughters-in-law:  Charlotte Erickson of Lincoln and Pat Erickson of Idaho; two step-daughters-in-law:  Val Erickson of Johnson Lake, Nebraska and Norma Erickson of Denver, Colorado; 36 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Mardell Schneider of Lincoln, Nebraska and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Colette's honor and will be designated at a later date.

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.