Marvin Marv W. Erickson

Marvin passed away peacefully in his home in Portland under the attentive and loving care of his wife Leona; his daughters Cindy and Connie, and granddaughters Caminel, Cianna, Teagan, and Marlee; and Providence Hospice.

Marvin William Erickson was born in the small town of Parker’s Prairie, Minnesota to parents John Albert and Elsie (Ackerman) Erickson on November 10, 1924. He grew up on the family dairy farm and was brother to John, Raymond, Evelyn, Esther, Arnold, twin brothers Elton and Ernest, Alice, Victor, and Glenn. He graduated from Parker’s Prairie High School and remained for a year or two following graduation in Parker’s Prairie performing farm duties. In February of 1945, Marvin enlisted in the US Army to support the WWII effort and he served as a fire truck driver in US occupied Japan. He was discharged honorably in December of 1946 and returned to Minnesota.

He met the love of his life, Leona I Swenson, in 1951. Leona was from Bertha, a small town 30 miles down the road from Parker’s Prairie, and she was still in high school at that time. The two enjoyed roller skating together, attending basket ball games and some dancing. Not too long after their meeting, Leona’s family relocated to the Washington County area of Oregon and Leona completed the last two years of high school and graduated from Beaverton High School. While apart for those two years, Marvin and Leona maintained a long-distance courtship and sent countless letters back and forth to each other. As high school came to a close for Leona, Marvin was making his way west to be with her, stopping time and again along the way to work and earn some money for their wedding and future together. Leona graduated from Beaverton High School in 1953 and the two were married in Bethel Congregational Church in Beaverton on September 19th of that year. Marvin found work with Firestone Tires. Following their marriage, Marvin and Leona lived with Leona’s family for a short period and then relocated to Alleghany, Oregon near Coos Bay; Marvin was given transfer orders to that destination. With Firestone, Marvin aided in the manufacture of the rugged tires used for the logging and construction.

Not long after their move to Alleghany, their first child, daughter Cynthia Rae was born in 1955. A second child, daughter Cheryl Ilene, was born in 1956. Sadly, Cheryl died very shortly after her birth. In 1957, daughter Connie Marie was born.

In 1959 the young family relocated to Oakridge, Oregon, where Marvin continued to work for Firestone at Oakridge Trucking. In 1962, the family relocated once more to the Garden Home area of Portland, OR. Their first dwelling in Garden Home was on an acre of land and they had horses, steers, and many other animals. Later the land served as a tree farm. They later moved to another home in Garden Home on 84th avenue – a home that continues to be the family home to this day.

In their leisure time the Ericksons enjoyed camping with family and extended family, and made many trips back east to Minnesota. Marvin and Leona made over 45 trips together from Portland to Minnesota to visit family and attend reunions – most of these with a car and trailer.

After 25 years of employment with Firestone, Marvin started his own commercial climate control business – Erickson Refrigeration. At the age of 73, Marvin retired; but even after retirement, he continued to help out his many loyal clients and businesses. He never truly retired, as he loved helping others and “keeping busy”. He enjoyed tinkering in his organized workshop in the furnace room of his home and building games and toys. He loved to help others with home improvement projects. Marvin built all of the shelving in his daughter’s home and helped his family, extended family, and friends with countless home improvement projects.

Marvin maintained his own small garden. His favorite food was the tomato. Canned, sliced up, lightly salted in between two slices of bread, or fresh off of the vine, Marvin did not discriminate. He loved tomatoes and enjoyed them until his very last of days.

Marvin is predeceased by infant daughter Cheryl, parents John and Elsie Ackerman, and six brothers: John, Raymond, Arnold, Elton, Ernest, and Victor Erickson. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Leona Erickson; daughters, Cindy Erickson-Roberts and Connie Miller; sisters, Evleyn Peterson, Esther Peterson, and Alice Decker; brother, Glen Erickson; and granddaughters, Caminel Miller, Cianna Miller, Teagan Roberts, and Marlee Roberts. A funeral service and burial ceremony will be held in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR, on Monday, September 16th, at 1pm. Please visit Marvin's internet memorial and online guestbook at www.skylinememorialgardens.com. Donations in Marvin's honor to Bethel Congregational Church or Providence Hospice.