Dale Clifford Erickson

Dale was born October 31, 1941, in Portland, Oregon, the son of Clifford and Margaret Erickson. Dale was the second born of 7 siblings. Following graduation from Beaverton High School in 1959, Dale joined the Navy before gaining an opportunity to participate in a vocational pipefitter training and apprenticeship. He gained honors and respect as he represented Oregon as the state’s top steamfitter apprentice in a national competition at Purdue University. It was this apprenticeship experience that launched Dale’s long-standing career as a steamfitter and proud member of local UA 290. He spent the last 35+ years of his career as a superintendent and mentor for Harder Mechanical. Anyone who worked with Dale knew he had a very strong work ethic and was often innocently guilty of occasional pranks. Dale was also famous for pinching pennies, dumpster diving for double-coupons, and garage sale surfing for unreal deals, often paying for finds with the quarters harvested from his soda vending machines. Dale even appeared as a guest on the morning news program, Good Day, Oregon, as the “Coupon King.” Always willing to lend a helping hand, Dale was welcoming, adventurous, funny, and respected by many for his attention to detail and his frugality.

Dale and Ilah happily traveled the world, and made friends wherever they went.

Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Ilah; father Clifford, and mother Margaret; his brother Donnie, sister Judith; and his two sons, Dale and Brian. He is survived by his sisters: Joanne Evenson and Janice Erickson; his brothers: David and Dennis Erickson; his loving daughters Denise Ramsden and Shawn McDonald; his sometimes-obedient sons-in-law Jerry Ramsden and Cliff McDonald; and his most beloved grandchildren: Brendan McDonald, Shannon McDonald, Alison McDonald, Emily Erickson, Danielle (Ramsden) Buck, and Kevin Ramsden.