Derald Roger Erickson

After a long, brave battle with multiple ailments, Derald Roger Erickson went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023. He was 85 years old. He passed away peacefully, knowing he would be going to Heaven to be with Jesus.

Derald was born on November 20th, 1937, in Yakima, Washington and lived the majority of his life in this area. He was proceeded in death by parents Ruth Anne Erickson (Anderson) and Harley Myron Erickson, and also his sister Anne Goldsmith, all of Yakima. He is survived by one sister Janette Dietrich of Chicago, IL, and his two daughters Karen Atterberry of Yakima and Julee Simmons of Lynden, WA. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Karen’s kids Paige Bernhardt and Luke Atterberry who both live in Yakima, and Julee’s kids Jordan and Drew Simmons who both live in Lynden.

Derald was married to Shirlene Erickson (Siegele) for 33 years. They farmed apples and pears in the west valley area for 25 years, and they raised their daughters to learn “the value of a dollar” and to have a strong work ethic. He taught his girls how to ride motorcycles and drive tractors. They worked the farm together as a family until Derald decided he’d had enough and took an early retirement at age 45 and sold it.

Even though the family worked hard, they played hard too. Derald instilled a love for travel, adventure and fun in his family. The family all loved to go camping and boating, and enjoyed traveling to Arizona, California, and Hawaii. Derald enjoyed taking annual camping trips along the Washington and Oregon coast where he taught the girls how to dig clams and catch crab. In between they camped at Ohanapecosh and did a lot of fishing. Later, he bought a permanent lot in Packwood, Washington and the family spent a lot of time making fond memories up there. It was here he taught the girls to golf. The various boats were trailered around the state for adventures in places like Lake Chelan, Lake Roosevelt, and the San Juans with family or friends. For many years the family also made an annual road trip to Arizona and California, which included trips to Disney Land, Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain. Eventually the Packwood residence was traded for a condo on Kauai. Derald loved to sit on the beach or in the mountains and just look out at God’s natural beauty. He provided a wonderfully enriched life for his girls and inspired a love of travel and appreciation for all these same activities in his children.

Derald loved dancing every weekend at the Blue Spruce Tavern in Packwood, or at the Vets Club or Eagles in Yakima. Another passion for years was playing tennis. He was a member of the YTC for years, and actively played and enjoyed this sport up until age 80. Derald also loved growing beautiful flowers, and all the women in his life. After he retired to Florida, he continued to enjoy playing tennis daily, and then going to the beach in the afternoons with a picnic lunch and a bottle of wine. He could also content himself with simply watching the lake or ocean for hours or admiring his flowers in bloom.

In his final years at Brookdale and Willow Springs, he enjoyed flirting with the nurses and looking out the window at the grounds and watching cars go by…dreaming of the day he could talk one of the nurses into marrying him, buy a little blue truck, and return to Florida and get back on the beach.

A celebration of life will be held at Keith and Keith Funeral Home on Thursday, June 22nd at 2PM. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com.