I could have written a traditional obit about Les. He might have liked that, but I want to make it simple. Leslie Erikson passed away on May 10, (when our Shane passed) 2024 at the Ft. Meade VA in Sturgis, S.D., after a short battle with Covid and a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was surrounded by his wife, Ellen and his daughter, Andrhea and his son, Spencer.
Les was born in Murdo, SD to Leon and Jeanne Erikson. He was a longtime resident in Lead, and he was loved by many. He loved his sister, Sam and her family. He loved his brother Marv, who was a great help during this difficult period. He loved Ev and their family. He loved his brother Cliff and his family. And they all loved him very much.
There are only a few things that I knew about Les Erikson. If you truly knew him, you loved him. Everybody who knew Les Erikson, loved Les Erikson. What you may not have known, was how loyal he was to those that didn’t harm his family. If you betrayed him or his family, he quietly wrote you off. He took his vows seriously, forsaking all others. At Ellen’s insistence, he may have spent time with you again, he may have even shown you affection to maintain peace, but there were only a few people that he loved unconditionally. Ellen, Andrhea, Spencer, Tyler and his grandchildren, Taylon, Tucker and Liam and especially Blaine who was like a son to him. But if you interfered in his life with them, he always chose them first. He was a loyal and true Viking. Funny, stubborn, hardworking, loving but most importantly, loyal.
At home, in Sturgis, the neighbors loved him. Thank you, Amy, Sheila and Dion, our boy! At work at Homestake/Barrick for 46 years, he loved Sarge(deceased), Jimmy, Clyde, and many more! At the VA, for the last year, he was cared for lovingly and he loved back Shelley, Cindy, Dawn, Sandy and Des, his champion as well as many others. He loved Nasty and Sweetie and the love and laughter they brought to him. As Ellen was there six of seven days of the week, she never saw as many tears as she did the day Les passed. Why? Because Everyone loved Les Erikson.
No services will be held. Les will be cremated, and ashes given to Andrhea, Spencer and Blaine. He will remain in an appropriate Viking Urn with Ellen until she too passes whereupon Andrhea will return them to the sea where they played and loved, and Les will be returned to his Viking roots. Sail on our Hero and return to us soon. All of us love Les Erikson!
You may sign his online guestbook at blackhillsfuneralhome.com.
