Jerroll Erickson, 94, longtime Maxbass area rancher, farmer, and state legislator, died Sunday, October 1, 2017, in a Rugby care center.

Jerroll Penryhn Ruedell Erickson was born May 14, 1923 in a homestead shack in Chatfield Township of Bottineau County, North Dakota to John and Pauline (Hustad) Erickson. His love of ranching began as a child with the ownership of a horse since the age of five.

He was the first child baptized in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, rural Eckman, ND. Jerroll's elementary years were spent in a one room school house alongside twenty-seven other students and one teacher, who also served as the janitor, fired the stove and did everything to educate and keep the students on task. He graduated from Minot High School with the class of 1941. During his high school years, he served as the business manager for the Searchlight yearbook, was a participant in Playmakers and ran track for the Magicians. Jerroll was confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot. He continued his education at Minot State Teachers College and ND Agricultural College, now known as NDSU. He completed his education at auctioneer's school in Ames, Iowa.

Jerroll was joined in marriage to Inga Larson on June 21, 1953 at the Mouse River Lutheran Church of rural Landa. They made their home on a ranch and farm in Chatfield Township, near Eckman, ND. They were a couple that did everything together. Their sixty-year partnership produced many fishing trips far and wide throughout the US and Canada.

Jerroll and Inga were past members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, where he held many offices within the church over the years. Jerroll was currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Glenburn. He was deeply involved in the community where he was born and raised. Jerroll served as the Chatfield Township Clerk for thirty years and as President of the Bottineau County Farmers Union for twenty-three years. He was involved with the boards of the Glenburn and Minot Farmer's Union Elevators for many years and served on an advisory committee for the Garrison Dam Project. He was a two-term state legislator and lobbied in Washington DC during the terms of three different US Presidents during his political career. He was a member of the Thor Lodge of the Sons of Norway. He became a member of the 50 Years in the Saddle Club in 1988. Jerroll was selected as a recipient of the Spirit of the NPL Award for 2017. Inga died December 29, 2013.

He will be deeply missed for all of his contributions but most by those who call him Pa, Grandpa and Great Grandpa.

His loving family includes sons, Joel Erickson, rural Maxbass, Karlyle and Kathy Erickson, rural Towner, ND; granddaughters, Martha Erickson and Andy 'Gundy' Gunderson, Amy and Matt Schlepp; great-grandchildren, Morgan Soine, Andrew Soine, Eli Schlepp, Wyatt Gunderson, June Marie Schlepp, along with a baby Gunderson and a baby Schlepp to be joining the family soon; brother-in-law, Arnold and Jordiene Larson, Landa, ND along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jerroll was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, his parents, an infant daughter, and a sister, Aurora Viola Erickson.

We would like to offer a heartfelt 'thank you' to the caregivers at Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby for their hours of personal and professional care that he received during his stay. Jerroll was appreciative of your excellent level of care.

Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Glenburn, ND;
Interment: Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Eckman, ND
Visitation: Friday, October 6, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church, Glenburn or the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Minot.