Erick was a member of our Class of 66 Moorhead High School Minnesota. Erick attended some of our reunions and was always a good person with great memories of our high school years . Rest in peace Erick and will be thinking of you at our 60th reunion next September.  Mark & LaVerne Czichotzki

Erik and we were college classmates at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.  I knew who Erik was because I knew a lot of faces and names, but we never talked while there.  We might have been in the once a week English lecture class.  But twelve days after graduation, in May of 1970, I was in Idlewild Airport in New York City, waiting for flight to visit my fiancee' Barbara Anderson in Paris.  I noticed Erik and his family waiting also for a flight to Norway.  I think or at least I hope I went over and talked to him.  I must have because I learned they were heading to Norway, which they did quite often.

We didn't meet again until the summer of 2017 when I began supply preaching one weekend a month for our pastor in Aitkin, Minnesota.  I noticed Erik in the congregation and when we shook hands, I held his and said, "Wait for me after the service."  We connected and my wife, Barbara and I began to meet Erik in church but also for lunch four or five times a summer.  Erik also was attending a Thursday Noon Men's Bible Study that I joined when we retired in the Aitkin area.  

So we got to know each other over the last eight years.  We got to know about Erik's medical work, starting in Liberia.  I was so impressed with Erik going there as the only doctor.  He would tell that with only his surgical residency time, he had to do surgeries in Liberia.  "How did you do that?" In his quiet manner he said, "Well I looked and studied the surgery books to see how to do this."  WOW!

He shared that he was waiting for a kidney replacement and was frustrated that his kidney function level was real low but not low enough to qualify yet.  But he was tired.  Still he went biking and traveling to parks, his enthusiasm for life was strong.  

He loved lutefisk, the Norwegian cod that was preserved in lye and then rinsed for eating.  He knew where the best dinners in the Minnesota-North Dakota area were.  Grandin Lutheran, north of Fargo, he said was the best.

Erik was a kind and sweet person. I met him when we were worked together in public health. He was always very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about public health. In retirement, we enjoyed lunches and my wife and I always enjoyed the pictures he sent to us about his many travels. We will miss you Erik. Eternal peace.

Dave (and Susan) Zane

Erik will be missed by his 2 grandchildren John Jr and Chloe.. they have lots of fun, great memories of grandpa Erik and he will be missed greatly.. He was a very humble father in law and I will miss the time that he spent with his family..

Here's a memory of grandpa Erik on John's 10th birthday gifting him a awesome kite.

Like so many, we were saddened to hear of the passing of Erik.  We are grateful to God that he was in our lives and part of our faith community.  He was a kind and caring person always willing to help and serve others whether it be in his profession or his daily life.  Of special note is his support of our Men in Mission men’s group at Gethsemane Lutheran Church.  Erik started attending our meetings and tour program in 2007 and continued throughout the recent years.  On several occasions he spoke to our group about his trips to China and Thailand and his career and life experiences.  We commend him on his dedication to public health and providing care to the communities he served.  I can not remember a time when he didn’t respond to our call to support events or our Men in Mission activities.  At the Fall Festival he would really enjoy time at one of the booths seeing the children having a great time. It became more difficult for him to handle some of the work we needed but even at our Pancake Supper this year he responded with, “I will be there and do what I can”.  That was Erik and what he meant to us.  We miss you but know that you are resting in the arms of the Lord!  Jack and Judy Westerman

The Henry Zawu family trip with Erik in Atkins

Henry and Esther are visiting Erik in Atkins

Henry and Esthet are visiting Erik in Austin.

Thank you to all for your kind thoughts and memories of Erik. He will be missed by many. We will remember him for his commitment to helping others and caring for them more than he cared for himself.

Erik Knut(no 'e') Svenkerud was born in Upland, California (Not Ontario, CA)

He grew up in Moorhead, MN. He attended Concordia College and graduated Suma cum laude, majoring in Biology and Chemistry, with a minor in Spanish.

As we sadly say goodbye to Erik, let us remember his strong commitment to his faith and his selfless contribution to his church family in Gethsemane Lutheran Church-Austin TX. May we also remember that in the end, GOD has the final say and we will all face judgment for our actions here on earth.

We are comforted in knowing my brother's soul is in heaven while his body is resting here in peace until the glorious Rapture.

Picture: Erik Knut Svenkerud, Moorhead High School-Moorhead Spuds, 1966

I met Erick when he was the physician at the student health center at Pan American University in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I was teaching in the physical therapist assistant program and he referred patients to our campus PT clinic. He was an excellent and dedicated physician. We both liked to camp and made several camping trips together, including one to Big Bend NP, and another into a mountainous area of Mexico.  We kept in touch and did some bike riding together after he had moved to Austin, TX. I also visited him at his summer home in Aitkin, MN, where he introduced me to Walleye (fish) at a local restaurant there. I was always impressed by how humble, approachable and friendly he was, a genuinely good person. I feel lucky to have known him.

Our condolences on the passing of Erik🙏🏻
Erik was a relative and close friend, even though he lived in the US and we lived in Norway. He was very interested in his Norwegian heritage and visited us numerous times. Jorn first met Erik in1970 and since both were studying medicine, had many similar interests. Their road trip from Texas to Minnesota in 2012 was especially memorable. It was impressive how Erik led such an active and rewarding life in spite of his medical challenges. 
“Vi lyser fred over ditt minne, Erik”
Julie and Jorn

I'm so very sad to hear of Erik's passing. He was a great friend and even better human being. Always friendly and always had an interest in others. I have fond memories taking Spanish classes with Eik and practicing the language at Gethsemane. 
You will be greatly missed! ✨️ 
May God taking you in his loving care now.

Your friend,
Tammie Danielsen

I offer my heartfelt sympathy to the Svenkerud family and Erik's friends at this difficult time. I worked at the Health Dept in Austin and Dr. Erik was my "go to" man when needing a consultation on TB skin tests. He literally would drop what he was doing and let me bring an employee to his office to consult on a TB skin test, the results and follow-up recommendations. I have much admiration for his vast knowledge and expertise. He was a tremendous resource for me and he was always patient and kind. I honestly think the world is a better place because of Dr. Erik's contributions. I pray the Lord will grant His loving comfort to the family and wrap Dr. Erik in His eternal embrace. May he rest in peace.

Like so many others, I am very sad to lose my friend Erik so suddenly this week.  I spoke with him in the hospital in Duluth prior to his discharge the last Friday of August and he said he was coming home after shutting his apartment in Aitkin MN.  He knew he was coming home for the last time and I hoped to enjoy his company again for another plate of Mexican food as he loved his enchiladas as much as he enjoyed his Norwegian lutefisk.  His friend Khem was with him as he took his final drive in his new, (nearly) full self-driving Cybertruck he had been wanting for years.  It was a difficult drive for Erik and Khem but they made it safely.  
Some of Erik’s many friends were there at the house when I visited.  I know there are many more who knew Erik from his many years in public health, his church, Rotary club, library, and other connections.  

A mutual friend Gary and I traveled with Erik on day trips around Central Texas every few months while he was in town.  Trips to Marble Falls, Blanco, Bastrop, Smithville, Clifton, Gonzales, San Marcos, La Grange, Fredericksburg, Giddings, San Antonio and elsewhere to visit historic places, county museums and courthouses, churches, jails, libraries, and parks were good times to share.  Erik will be missed a lot and by many.

Eric was a great neighbor and great friend. We will miss him living next to us all summer. He loved our Ki-Ki and Remi. And got to meet Redrider. I loved hearing about his life. Very interesting. I loved him and we miss him. Fly high Eric touch those stars you always talked about. You made a hugh difference to us and the world. Rest Easy Eric. Sincerely Tim, Bonnie and fur kids.

Sentimos mucho por la pérdida de un gran amigo, un compadre y padrino de nuestro hijo que lleva su nombre como segundo nombre.  Un amigo bondadoso, íntegro, solidario, compañero de muchos momentos alegres y difíciles. Fue una figura marcante en la vida de muchas personas, de varios países, lenguas, costumbres, de diferentes orígenes étnicos y de distintas visiones de mundo. Su mirada alegre y cautiva, auxiliada por sus pocas palabras, pero atentos oídos, creaban más puentes que muros entre las personas que lo conocieron. Su vida fue un testimonio de la esperanza y la fe, de que la vida, la paz y el amor entre las personas, entre los grupos humanos y los países, son capaces de vencer a la muerte, a las enfermedades, al odio y la violencia de las guerras. Gracias Erik, por haber sido la persona que fuiste, por el ejemplo que nos dejaste, y por habernos hecho parte de tu vida. 

We are deeply sorry for the loss of a great friend, a compadre and godfather to our son who bears his name as a middle name. A kind, upright, and supportive friend, a companion through many joyful and difficult moments. He was a defining figure in the lives of many people, from various countries, languages, customs, ethnic origins, and worldviews. His joyful and captivating gaze, aided by his few words, but profound gaze and attentive ear, created more bridges than walls between the people who knew him. His life was a testament to hope and faith, that life, peace, and love among people, among human groups, and among countries, are capable of conquering death, disease, hatred, and the violence of war. Thank you, Erik, for being the person you were, for the example you left us, and for making us a part of your life.

OBITUARY

Erik Knut Svenkerud

February 13, 1948 – September 1, 2025

Cook-Walden Capital Parks Funeral Home & Cemetery

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