Obituary

John J Erickson
Formerly of Olalla, WA
1939 - 2023

John Joseph Erickson, 83, of Logan, UT, died peacefully January 17, 2023, surrounded by family after a brief battle with Clostridioides difficile or C. Diff.

John was born January 23, 1939, to Pauline L. and John E. Erickson in Crookston, MN. The family moved to Toppenish, WA where he graduated from Toppenish High School in 1957. Go Wildcats!

Growing up in Toppenish John worked multiple agriculture field jobs, played basketball and ran track for Top-Hi. After graduation, John joined the Air Force and spent four years stationed in multiple locations, his favorite being Japan. John returned to the Yakima Valley and went to work for the Yakima Valley Libraries driving the bookmobile.

John married Virginia Lynne on Sept. 7, 1963, in La Grande and lived in Yakima, Wash., until moving to Seattle. They eventually settled in Olalla to raise their children, Nichole and TJ.

John worked for Boeing and PACCAR before finding his place at the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA, where he retired from in 2002. In his free time, he enjoyed practicing whichever sport his children/grandchildren were playing, attending their numerous sporting events, being their biggest supporter and cheerleader. Cannot count how many candy bars he bought and help sell for all of our fundraisers.

His hobbies included visiting with friends and family, breakfast with the guys, RV'ing with Lynne and friends, traveling around the country with Don and Vicky, golfing with anyone - especially his grandson Alex, attending the Pendleton Round Up and visiting the local casinos.

John leaves behind: daughter, Nichole of Yakima, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, TJ and Mei-Ling; two grandsons Alex and Noah, of Providence, UT; brothers and sister-in-law, Jim and Kathi Erickson of Chehalis, Wash., and Don and Vicky Erickson of Yakima, Wash.; sister-in-law, Patty Haynes of Bremerton, Wash.; good friends Mike and Karen Tarkon and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his wife Lynne, parents and beloved dog Teke.
Please join us in celebrating his life Friday, March 24, 2023, at Yakima Elks Golf Course from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Graveside services will begin at 10:00am, Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Olney Cemetery, Pendleton, OR.

We would like to give a special thank you our Uncle and Aunt Don and Vicky for being the lead contact keeping family and friends updated on dad's condition and death and helping make arrangements for the celebration. We could not have gotten through this without you.

In lieu of flowers, we would like everyone to go play a round of golf, max bet your first spin on your favorite slot machine or play a game of cards with family and friends.