Sherwood Erickson

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Sherwood Le Roy Erickson passed into rest Aug. 9, 2008. He was 80 years old. He was born June 16, 1928, in Albert Lea and was the second of seven children born to Leslie Vernon and Ida Luella (Grasdalen) Erickson.
He worked for Minneapolis Honeywell before joining the U.S. Navy at 17 years of age in 1946 and went to boot camp in San Diego, Calif. He was stationed at the NAS Point Mugu, Calif. Sherwood worked in the transportation department and drove supply trucks and occasionally the “Blue Goose” which brought other sailors into town. During his time in the Navy he had many adventures including a cross country trip with a buddy from San Diego to Albert Lea on Christmas Leave encountering many unique individuals.
On a night out to the movies with buddies he met and struck up a conversation with Beryl Jean Sweeney. He walked her home and asked to see her again. They began dating and were later married June 21, 1948, in Minneapolis. In February 1949 they moved to Oxnard, Calif., with their first born child and he went to work for Orr Truck Lines. In 1960 they moved to Simi Valley, Calif., and an opportunity arose for Sherwood to drive for ICX Trucking on a long haul route from Los Angeles to Chicago he drove for ICX for 20 years.
Sherwood loved to travel and visit with people and always was willing to help where ever and whoever he could. During his travels he and Beryl visited 47 states including Hawaii and Alaska. In Canada they traveled to Ontario, British Columbia, Vancouver and the Yukon Territory they even made a trip into Mexico. His other hobbies were fishing and he really like taking his grandsons even if it meant he would be baiting hooks more than fishing himself. Wood working was another pastime he enjoyed making Christmas ornaments and toys. Sherwood was a Master Mason of Simi Valley Masonic Lodge #806 for 40 years and also a member of The Order of Eastern Star, and the American Legion Post 8, he attended Klamath Lutheran Church for 20 years.
In death he was preceded by his son Sherwood (in infancy); his brother Leslie Jr.l and his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Beryl Jean of Klamath Falls; daughter Mary Chambers of Citrus Heights, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law Bernadette and Ron Rizzo of Camptonville, Calif.; daughter Juliana Mazurek of Livermore, Calif.; daughter Leslie Lambert of Summerville, S.C.; daughter and son-in-law; Annette and Joseph Byrne of Ceres, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; brother Rodger Erickson; sisters Virginia Nelson, Doris Lake, Mildred Wilde and Arlene Reid; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service with military honors will be held on Aug. 23 at the Klamath Lutheran Church, 1175 Crescent Ave. Klamath Falls, Ore., at 10 a.m.