She was born to David and Nellie Erickson on July 13, 1928, the third of six children. She grew up working on the family farm, but her mother, who was a teacher, instilled not only the value of hard work, but also the importance of education in all her children. Dolores went on to Weber College after graduation from high school and pursued her goal of becoming a registered nurse. She put her R.N. degree to work in serving her country during the Korean War. She was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps and was deployed to Tokyo, Japan where she was stationed at the Evacuation Hospital of the United Nations Command.
While in Tokyo, she met an Air Force Staff Sergeant, Norman Rowan, at a church service. They were married in Tokyo on February 6, 1952. Their marriage was later solemnized in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple. When they returned to the states, she continued working as a nurse and found her niche working in labor and delivery wards. After a few years in Orem, Utah and a year in Corvallis, Oregon while Norman attended Oregon State University, the family moved to Barstow, California in 1961. They increased their family, eventually becoming parents to five children. She worked for many years in the labor and delivery ward at Barstow Community Hospital.
Dolores will be greatly missed. She loved to serve others and did so through her nursing profession, community, and church service. She touched the lives of so many. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and she served the church in so many capacities through the years that it would be impossible to count them, including serving an 18-month mission with her husband to Washington state. Even after her vision and body were failing, she constantly spoke of wanting to serve. She lived a very full life and was blessed to have several of her children with her to celebrate her 96th birthday, three days before her passing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters, two brothers and two great-grandchildren. She is survived by one sister, Pat Harris of Ogden, Utah, five children: Jerald Rowan (Shannon) of Pocatello, Idaho; Merilynn Rowan of Memphis, Tennessee; Stephen Rowan (Cindy) of Ione, California; Joelyn Wells (John) of St. George, Utah; and Mark Rowan (Maria) of Barstow, California. She also leaves behind 20 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
A viewing will be held at 10:00, followed by funeral services at 11:00, on July 27, 2024 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2571 Barstow Road, Barstow, California.
Interment and graveside service will be at the Utah Veterans Cemetery on July 30th at 12:00.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Loving Care Ranch and Care Life Hospice for the amazing and loving care they provided to Dolores.
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