REMEMBERING DADDY...

Claude Leonal Erickson - Dad to a few and Grandpa to many. We miss

you every day. Claude Erickson was a hard worker, a skilled

craftsman, honest, strong and faithful. He was 22 and my mother

barely 17 when they married, at the beginning of the great

depression. They knew hard times and good times, raised 9

children and managed to remain true and faithful to each other

for over 60 years. He loved the Lord.

Most of all he loved his family.

Daddy was one of 13 children

Dad served a mission at age 17 to Tennessee

These are photos from his mission.Claude is at back left. (Elder Erickson is center back)

Dad, sitting in front.

Dad at far left, with other missionaries.

Elder Erickson and companion with two investigators. Age 19

Claude was 3rd youngest of 10 living siblings. This is the earliest
photo I've seen of Dad. His father, Bouther Erickson, is in the

back in the sunglasses. I think that skinny kid on the far left

is Dad (correct me, please, if I'm wrong)

Here in the 1950's in Wyoming. One of his mission companions,

Elder Bateman, remained his friend forever. We often took vacations

to Star Valley Wyoming, where the Bateman family lived.

This photo is of Dad on a fishing trip to Wyoming.

Dad never took a vacation without his family about him.

Dad at age 20 (approx.). So handsome!

Dad loved the Utah outdoors. He really enjoyed his cabin

in Fairview. Here with grandson Paul and daughter Michelle.

He liked to hunt, but he LOVED to fish. I used to go fishing

with him as a kid. The fishing wasn't as important as the

time I got to spend with him.

Fly fishing in Wyoming
Happy Daddy

One of my favorite photos - of course. That's me, the

recipient of the bear hug.

Claude & Brad Erickson and friend

At the Bateman pool in Wyoming. I think that is

Judi to the left of Dad.

Elder Bateman and Elder Erickson - long after

their missions

Dad and the girls at Temple Square

Dapper in white carpenter overalls

Dad wasn't only a builder/carpenter. He built airplanes and did

bookkeeping during the depression and WWI when jobs were

scarce. With kidney stones, he was not eligible to fight in WWI.

Approx. 1946

To the left are Boyd, Judith and Geneva

To the right: Brad, Eve and Virginia

Dad and his boys.
They had to stick together
They were very outnumbered!

I always remember Dad with his shirtsleeves rolled up.

He was proud of his biceps!

Early photo of Claude & Afton

Dad hugging April.

He always had a hat of some kind on his head.

I love this early 50's photo of Claude & Afton

taken at house on Highland Drive

Hunting - late 40's or early 50's

Claude, Maxine (sister), Lynn (Afton's brother)

So... Dad's sister married Mom's brother. Their kids

are our double cousins...

Lynn Brotherson with Brad, Boyd, Floyd (Lynn's son) and Claude

Deer Hunting Season

Dad and family watch swollen stream from

floodwaters in Salt Lake.

Dad and his boys - Stopping for water from the spring in

American Fork Canyon on the way to Elmo. Those

days you needed to carry a radiator bag of water for

the car - in Dad's hand.

Dad shows off an early painting

Dad and Geneva load the car for a family trip

Hooking the worms

General Conference - Temple Square

Eve, Geneva, April and Ginny at far right

Idaho Falls, Idaho

That is the Idaho Falls Temple in the background.

Bathing beauties at the Great Salt Lake??

Left to Right: April, Ginny, Geneva, Eve and Judith

The Erickson Clan - 1954

Back row: Boyd & girlfriend (Norma Carlson), Eve, Ginny, Brad, Judith

Front row: April, Dad, Claudine, Mom, Geneva

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Top Banana

Doing the stonework

1956 (or thereabout)

More stonework!

Building our house in his spare time - took a while,

but when it was finished, it was completely paid off.

Not long after, Dad received a bulding mission call to New York.

We traveled to Kingston in upstate New York to build a branch chapel.

Dad & Geneva

A visit to Joseph Smith's home

Visiting Grandma & Grandpa Brotherson

Kingston, New York

Asbury Park

Dad holding Michelle

After New York came the call to England

1961

Dad with Michelle and his building missionaries

Reading, England

Barry, Tom, Peter and John

38 Bloomfield Road

Our home in Reading, Berkshire, England

Hamilton, Scotland

The Ericksons with Moira Peacock

Mom and Dad - making brownies

Never leave the house without your umbrella in England

The chapel that Dad built in Reading, England

Dad on far left

Building Supervisor for Samoa and outlying islands

Groundbreading Ceremony for a new Chapel

Dad is holding the shovel

Dad with new granddaughter, Joey Lee

Michelle, Mom, Claudine, Dad

and his sister Lily











Eve, Angel, Dad, Judith and Michelle

at Disneyland

(early 70's)

Judi, Ben (the cat) Mom and Dad

Early 70's

Michelle, Dad and Mom in Australia

Dad created a hat from a handkerchief to combat the

100+ degree heat in Australia. This is from a

newspaper article.

Late 70's family photo

(Greg Erickson's funeral in Arizona)

Dad with Brad and Mom at Claudine's wedding reception

Claudine with Mom and Dad

1980

The family - 1981

(Michelle's wedding reception)

Claude & Afton's 50th Wedding Anniverary Celebration

Chandra & Grandpa

Afton & Claude with Prissy

50th Celebration

James and Grandpa 1986

Grandpa & Matt

James & Grandpa on the Piano

Eve, Del Ray (Mom's brother), Michelle, Dad,

Chandra, Judi

We enjoyed his sense of humor

Couples mission to Samoa with Mom

Dad brushes snow off of the cars

Murray, Utah.

HEY, CRAZY ERICKSONS:
Please share your photos of Claude Erickson. email me at claudinebarnett@hotmail.com

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