Marilyn Cecelia Erickson

Marilyn Cecelia Erickson, age 96, of Coon Rapids, MN, passed away early Friday morning, August 29, 2025 at the Epiphany assisted living facility. She was born November 12, 1928 in Mankato, Minnesota, a daughter of Walter and Cecelia Hiniker.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Owen Erickson in 1974 and her son, Brent Richard Erickson in 1976, granddaughter, Sophie Prochnow in 2020 and daughter-in-law, Gwen Margaret Erickson in 2018.

Marilyn was a founding member of the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids and was proud to be an active member who was dedicated to service as a volunteer helper for parish funeral luncheons and a weekly participant in Adoration services.

After graduating from high school in Mankato, she worked in the office at Brett’s department store. During an outing with her high school friends in 1949, she met the love of her life, Richard Owen Erickson of St. Peter. Three years dating led to a happy marriage and four children, Denese, Kent, Brent and Dale.

Marilyn was a dedicated and loving mother, seamstress and cook. She volunteered as her sons’ Cub Scout den mother. Family vacations found them camping and fishing their favorite northern Minnesota lakes - by boat and dock in summer and inside a fish house constructed by her husband in winter. Marilyn was an excellent fisherwoman.

With the youngest in high school, Marilyn started working part time for the Pillsbury European Flower Markets. This eventually led to a 22-year full time career managing Bachman’s European Flower markets spending countless hours behind the wheel of her car as she traveled to each of the stores located from Duluth to Mankato. Later, she transitioned to managing 3 of Bachman’s Floral stores when they were located in Brookdale, Rosedale and Maplewood malls. She was a creative “people person” with excellent organizational and marketing skills and beloved by the employees she hired and managed.

She also discovered that she had a talent for stained glass art. Her family has no idea how many stained glass panels, lamps, sun catchers, stepping stones and other stained glass ornaments she made and shared with family members and friends. Her work has become treasured keepsakes. She also donated her creations to help with fundraising for the Church of the Epiphany.

Marilyn became the matriarch of the Erickson/Hiniker families when she survived her parents, all of her 5 siblings, aunts and uncles and cousins. She was beloved, not only by her children, grand children, great grand children, great-great grand children, and also all of her nieces and nephews. Each has their own favorite “Marilyn” stories.

Marilyn is survived by her daughter Denese Eileen Erickson of St. Louis Park and sons Kent Thomas Erickson of Hibbing and Dale Owen Erickson of Andover, 7 grandchildren, 17 great grand children and 10 great great grandchildren, sister-in-law Arvis Hiniker of California and Gloria Hiniker of Texas.

Join us to celebrate Marilyn's life on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at The Church of the Epiphany, 1900 111th Ave NW, Coon Rapids, MN. Visitation begins at 9:30 am, with Mass at 10:30 am, and luncheon to follow. Interment will take place at 1:30 pm at Calvary Cemetery, 991 West Main Street, Anoka, MN.

If you are unable to join us in person, please join the Livestreamed service at: https://youtube.com/live/698SgYBtuRs?feature=share

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

https://donorservices.alz.org/