Obituary of Harold A. Erickson

Harold A. Erickson, 90, of the Wellman Rd. Ashville, NY, passed away peacefully at 8:30 am Thursday, May 2, 2019, in his home. A lifelong area resident, he was born January 1, 1929, on the family farm on Wellman Rd., Town of Busti, a son of the late August and Tillie Johnson Erickson. Harold attended a one room schoolhouse on the Wellman Rd. and graduated from the former Lakewood High School in 1946 Harold worked as a lifelong dairy farmer on the family farm which he purchased from his father in 1951. He spent his entire life working on the family farm. After he sold his livestock he had worked for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Green Thumb Program, maintaining the state lands, working well into his 80's. He was a 70 year member of the Ashville United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school and sang in the choir for many years. He had served on numerous boards and commissions within the church and also led a men's bible study in his home and was a member of the former Methodist Men. Mr. Erickson served on the Southwestern Central School Board of Education for 9 years, where he was a past president. He was also a former member of the Chautauqua County Extension Service Dairy Herd Improvement Association and a former member of the Town of Busti Board of Appeals. In 1963, Harold received the Lakewood Area Jaycees first Outstanding Young Farmers Award. Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Dorothy Bush Erickson whom he married May 12, 1951, a daughter; Marilyn Erickson LePage (William) of Knoxville, TN, a son, Richard "Rick" Erickson (Shari) of Lakewood, NY, two grandchildren; Leigh Anne Erickson of Pinole, CA, Linsdey Erickson Spigel (Solomon) of Topsham, MA, as well as several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his three brothers; Alvan, Julius and Stanley Erickson. The funeral will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday in the Ashville United Methodist Church. Lay Leader Candy Scarem will officiate. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Ashville, NY. Friends will be received from 4-7 pm Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Ashville United Methodist Church, 2180 North Maple Ave. Ashville, NY 14710.