Darrell "Bud" L. Ericson

Funeral Services for Darrell L. "Bud" Ericson will be conducted from the Emmaus Evangelical Free Church north of Funk, Nebraska on Monday, December 27, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Gene Layne and Pastors Linda Knipping and Murray Jones officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Darrell L. "Bud" Ericson, 85 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Bud was born June 11, 1925 on the family farm five miles north of Funk in Phelps County, Nebraska, the youngest of two children born to Emil A. and Anna A. (Engstrom) Ericson. He received his primary education from District #26 north of Funk and then the Holdrege Public Schools, graduating in 1943. Bud then pursued higher education at a business school in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Following his education, Bud engaged in farming on the family farm where he was born. On June 5, 1951 he was united in marriage to Lois E. Hendrickson at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege and this marriage was blessed with two children: Kevin and Karen. The family continued to reside on the farm five miles north of Funk, where Bud actively engaged in farming and cattle. Following an injury to Bud's leg, the couple began to make their home at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.

Bud was a member of the Emmaus Evangelical Free Church, where he served on the church board for many years, he also served on the Funk School Board for two terms, he was a member of Gideon International Organization, where he felt it was important to get God's word spread to as many people as he could and for many years he served as a Scandinavian Insurance Adjuster out of Axtell, Nebraska.

Bud loved to spend time with his family, especially enjoyed the years spent with the grandchildren. A highlight of Bud's life was the birth of his great-granddaughter, Alexis this past year. He will be remembered as a people person, never knowing a stranger and through the years treasured the friendship bonds formed with his neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Hardy Ericson and his wife, Mary.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Lois of Holdrege; son, Kevin Ericson and his wife, Sandi of Funk; daughter, Karen Stegman and her husband, Mike of Columbus, Nebraska; nine grandchildren: Klint Ericson and his wife, Laurel of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Kerrie Rosheim and her husband, 1st Lieutenant Aaron Rosheim of Funk and Kosovo, Kendall Ericson and his wife, Jessica of Funk, Kaleb Ericson of Hazard, Nebraska, Kyle Ericson and his wife, Stephanie of Hollister, Missouri, Krystal Ericson of Funk, Erik Stegman of Omaha, Nebraska, Andrew Stegman of Omaha, and Ryan Stegman of Columbus; one great-granddaughter, Alexis Ericson of Funk; one niece, Beverly Smoker of St. Petersburg, Florida; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 26, 2010 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the Emmaus Evangelical Free Church or the Gideon International.

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.