Delbert Erickson

The funeral for Delbert Irvin Erickson will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, (March 13, 2007) at Gethsemane Lutheran Brethren Church in Rochester with Rev. David Rinden and Rev. Darryl Erickson officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester. Mr. Erickson, 79, of Grammercy Park in Rochester, died Tuesday (Feb. 27, 2007) at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield, Minnesota. Born May 18, 1927 in Viroqua, Wisconsin, the son of Joseph and Gladys (Melby) Erickson, he was raised there. On January 31, 1948, Delbert was united in marriage to Dorothy M. Kyllo at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.Delbert farmed near Kasson for a short time and then worked for Root's Grocery in Rochester. In 1951 he purchased the business on West Center Street from Fred Root, changed the name to Del's Superette and operated it until 1968. He then worked for Red Owl before working at Barlow's/Hy-Vee for the next 31 years. Upon retirement, he volunteered for Channel One and then joined with his friends at the Salvation Army's "Caring Partners" program. He was an Elder and founding member of Gethsemane Lutheran Brethren Church, and was a member of the Christian Businessmen's Association.He is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Rochester, 3 sons, Rev. Darryl (Karen) Erickson of Grandview, Iowa; David (Jennifer) of Arlington, Virginia; Tim (Melanie) of Rochester; one daughter Sharon and (Rev. Cal) Hiebert of McHenry, Illinois; 11 grandchildren; and two sisters Pearl (Rev. Harold) Peterson of Bella Vista, Arkansas; and Dorothy (Sheldon) Een of Minooka, Illinois. His parents, his brother Jay, and an infant stillborn son Jonathan, preceded him in death. Friends may call from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday (March 12, 2007) at Mahn Family Funeral Home ? Rochester Chapel (1624 37th. St. N.W.) in Rochester, and one hour before the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to Salvation Army's "Caring Partners" Program, Gethsemane Lutheran Brethren Church, or World Hope International.