Chester (Chet) Adolph Erickson

Chester “Chet” A. Erickson age 91 of Tracy, MN died at his home, Thursday, October 13, 2011. Service will be 10:30 AM Monday, October 17, 2011 at Tracy Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 PM Sunday, October 16, 2011 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery, with a luncheon served following the burial in the church social hall. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Chester “Chet” Adolph Erickson was born September 9, 1920 to John and Anna (Berland) Erickson in Fosston, MN. He was baptized in 1920 at Poplar Lake Lutheran Church and also confirmed there in 1935. He was raised on a farm in Columbia Township, Polk County, MN, (outside of Fosston) where he attended country school. Chet began working as a young man in the logging industry in Deer River, MN for two years after completing school, and then moved to Minneapolis, MN where he went to work for Nile Hardware, also for two years. Chet then entered Barber College in Minneapolis and after he graduated from there, he went to work for Greg’s Barber Shop in Sleepy Eye, MN. In 1940, Chet moved to Tracy, MN and went to work at Bill’s Barber Shop before joining the U.S. Navy in 1942. During his time of service he was stationed on several different ships, but served mostly on the U.S.S. LCI(R) 31, which was commended by the Secretary of the Navy for its “exceptionally meritorious service” in several Pacific Theatre operations during 1944 to 1945. He received his honorable discharge in December of 1945 with the rank of Chief Motor Machinist Mate, and returned to Tracy. In 1946 Chet married Elaine Erickson in Granite Falls, MN and they made their home in Tracy. Shortly after his return to Tracy, Chet went to work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad as a switchman. He retired after thirty six years of service as a Footboard Yard Master in 1982. During his time in the service Chet also received a certificate for diesel training and Bachelor’s Degree in refrigeration engineering from the University of Missouri. He began working with commercial and residential refrigeration in 1946 and never really retired from it. Chet was a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church and the Tracy Lions Club. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, camping, woodworking and fixing just about anything. On Thursday, October 13, 2011 Chet died at his home in Tracy at the age of 91. Chet is survived by his four sons, Eric Erickson of Crofton, MD, Blake Erickson of Manchester, NH, David (Colleen) Erickson of Eau Claire, WI and Paul (Kelley)Erickson of Northfield, MN; eleven grandchildren, Aaron (Sherry), Adam (Misty), Matt (Michele), Blake II, Kerry, Mike, Brian, Matt, Claire, John and Joe Erickson; two great grandchildren, Christian and Jonathan Erickson; one brother, Stuert (Hazel) Erickson of Hot Springs, AR; and several nieces, nephews as well as many friends. His wife, Elaine, his parents, one son, Bruce, one daughter-in-law, Caroline, and four brothers, Mel, Juel, Andy and George, preceded him in death. The family requests that memorials be given to the Tracy Lutheran Church.