Donald Alvin Erickson

Though born in Grants Pass, Oregon, Dad, along with his 5 siblings, spent most of his youth in Washington’s Kittitas Valley assisting with the family farming operations and living all of the tales he would regale family and friends with throughout his life. After graduation from Ellensburg High School Dad joined the Navy (without giving notice to his most surprised and displeased mother) to secure the opportunity to continue his education at Central Washington State College on the GI Bill. During his enlistment in the Navy, his hopes of becoming a pilot were dashed when, after qualifications, he was informed of the Navy’s extended enlistment requirements for the program, so he turned to aerial photography, where once again he lived the harrowing tales that he would regale family and friends with throughout his life.

During the course of his studies at Central, Dad met Dorothy Anderson (Mom), who would become his wife and partner in life’s adventures until her death in 2014. After graduating from Central with a degree in Mathematics (short just 3 credits for a second degree in Physics) Dad and Mom and their first-born Karen, moved to Seattle so he could attend grad school at the University of Washington, but before classes started, IBM convinced him that a career with IBM was a better path to follow, which he did until retirement nearly 40 years later.

Along the way, Dad and Mom added 2 more daughters to the family, Judy and Diane, and our family of 5 shared many adventures as Dad, who could ‘fix’ or ‘fix-up’ anything, brought home the various ‘deals’ that caught his eye, boats, campers, motorcycles, snow mobiles, jet skis, and more. We were always excited to see “What followed Dad home today?”, though we knew which ever ‘deal’ followed him home required his special ‘fixing skills’ before the fun would begin.

Dad loved to share his stories, especially when accompanied by a cocktail, and he loved a good debate, though his debate style was more often than not to put words in your mouth and then enjoy your frustrated efforts to set the record straight.

Though feeling the lonely burden of being the ‘last one standing’ after Mom and each of his siblings, Merle, Gladys, Lois, Alene and Margie and their spouses Virginia, Harold, John, Cliff, and Paul, and many of his dear friends and extended family passed before him, he lived all of his 94 years planning for the future.

Dad’s family, daughters Karen, Judy & Diane, son-in-law Scott, and grandkids Sean, Emma & Ethan, look forward to celebrating a life well lived with all who are able to join on Friday, October 21st from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at: Lifetime Celebrations: 18224 – 103rd Ave NE, Bothell, WA 98011

In lieu of flowers, we encourage a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association to help fight the disease that took Mom from Dad.