Lavern "Chink" Erickson

Funeral Services for Lavern L. "Chink" Erickson will be conducted from First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Heather Shoup, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Lavern Lyle "Chink" Erickson, 80 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Lavern was born July 8, 1926 at Holdrege, the second of three children of Wallace and Maggie (Moore) Erickson. He received his primary education at the Christian Children's Home at Holdrege and later graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1943. Following his education, Chink served his country during WW II in the United States Navy from October 25, 1944 until his honorable discharge on July 2, 1946.

Chink then returned home and began his lifelong career as an Electrician with his father in the family business, Erickson Electric. On June 29, 1947 he was united in marriage to Norma Jane Jarnagin at Kearney, Nebraska and to this union three daughters were born: Teresa Kay, Deborah Jean and Shelly Dee. The family continued to make their home in Holdrege, where Chink continued to be involved in the family business until his retirement.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for over fifty years, where he served as a past Elder, past Exalted Ruler and Secretary of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge # 2062, member of the American Legion and the V.F.W. in Holdrege, was an avid sportsman and enjoyed spending winters in Arizona with Norma for over fifteen years.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Norma of Holdrege; three daughters: Teresa Jacobs and her husband, Don of Brighton, Colorado, Debbie Peterson of Brighton and Shelly Howsden and her husband, Blake of Oshkosh, Nebraska; seven grandchildren: Tonya Hindman and her husband, Jarrod, Mica Renquist and his wife, Iryna, Doni Richmond and her husband, Landon, Darci Reback and her fiance, Thomas Hudson, Pvt. Lisa Peterson, Riley and Taya Howsden; seven great-grandchildren: Stefan, Flossie, Elijah, Stella, Reagen, Evvi and Vivian; step-mother, Colette Erickson of Holdrege; half-sister and half-brothers: Betty Dahlgren and her husband, Bob of Bertrand, Nebraska, Ed Erickson and his wife, Janice of Holdrege, Mark Erickson and his wife, Alice of Wellington, Kansas, Jerry Erickson of Holdrege, Tom Erickson of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Don Erickson and his wife, Susan of Holdrege; sisters-in-law: Val Erickson of Johnson Lake, Nebraska, Charlotte Erickson of Holdrege, Pat Erickson of Vacaville, California and Jean Heinrichs of Spencer, Iowa and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Roy and Harold Erickson and two half-brothers: James and Jack Erickson.

Chink will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Friday, June 29, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

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.