Matthew Herbert Erickson

Born in Moscow, Idaho

Died Edmonton, Alberta age 81

Matthew, son of Herbert and Dorothy Erickson, grew up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho delivering newspapers on his bicycle earning money to purchase Coke products, alongside his siblings: Craig, Phil, Todd, Joe, Anne & Mary Ev.

Matthew spent his high school years in California at seminary school and afterwards pursued a college degree. Matthew was then accepted to, and graduated from, the US Military Academy at West Point, New York where he obtained his Bachelors of Science in Engineering. After graduating from West Point, Matthew was briefly stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. It was in Alaska where he met his lifelong confidant, Mary de Neige Carraher. Matthew and Mary were married on June 20, 1972. After they were married, Matthew was stationed in Vietnam. When he returned from Vietnam, Matthew and Mary were eventually stationed in West Germany. It was in Germany where their son, George Matthew, was born.

After retiring as a Captain from the US Army, the family then moved to Canada and settled down to live and work on a farm, where they spent the next 50 years outside of Stony Plain. The first 15 years on the farm Matthew and Mary would work, live and enjoy the community, often relying on neighboring farmers for input who always responded with kindness, generosity and humility. He took to farming and loved the land, fresh air and solitude.

Matt pivoted later in life and pursued practicing his engineering degree originally obtained at West Point. He spent 2 years commuting to the University of Alberta in Edmonton as a requirement for certifications, mentioning on occasion that the Romans had done similar math 2000 years ago, questioning what had changed in 20 years to require him to return to University in order to regain his certifications.

Matt worked for only a few years as an engineer before pivoting again and simply living on the farm with Mary. They would sit in the sun on nice days and enjoyed the environment of quiet peacefulness - they loved it all. Their days were spent gardening, planting and embracing the Alberta variants in weather. When the harvest moon was present, dad mentioned "you had to get the crop off".

Matthew was also Grandpa to Beatrice Marie and Henry Herbert. As their Grandpa, he had a knack for always being the adult to spend time with them and be their friend - swimming, cooking, canning, traveling, mowing, walking, soaking, talking hockey, making treats in the kitchen, reading and even FaceTiming with Beatrice weekly to help her with her calculus and physics homework. Matthew was deeply loved by his family.

It also cannot be overlooked that Matthew was an exceptional baker and chef; driven by his curiosity of various cultures as well as the time spent in the kitchen with his family at their home.

Matthew long loved days of cooking and enjoying the simple paradise of a land not yet found by the masses.

“O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won.

O Captain! M y Captain! Rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will”.

O Captain! My Captain!

By Walt Whitman

Matthew is survived by his wife, Mary Carraher Erickson; his son George Matthew Erickson and wife Erin Marie Erickson; grandchildren Beatrice Marie and Henry Herbert; brother Todd Anthony Erickson and sisters Anne Fortune and Mary Evelyn Erickson. He is preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Dorothy Erickson; and brothers Craig, Phil and Joe Erickson.