Erick O. Flaskerud

Monday, February 27, 2017 2:55 pm

Erick O. Flaskerud, 99, of Decorah, died Sunday morning, Feb. 26, 2017, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 2, at Calmar Lutheran Church in Calmar, with Rev. Phillip Olson officiating. Burial is in Calmar Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation was from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and Thursday beginning at 10 a.m., one hour before the service, at Calmar Lutheran Church. Organist is Martha Ludeking. Soloist is LeEtta Choi (“I Am But A Stranger Here” and “The Lord’s Prayer”). Congregational hymns are “Softly and Tenderly” and “Immortal, Invisible.” Casket bearers are Larry Flaskerud, Jim Flaskerud, Rodney Flaskerud, Jay Flaskerud, Ed Hegtvedt and Don Hegtvedt. Interment is at Calmar Lutheran Cemetery. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Erick Oliver Flaskerud was born June 29, 1917, in Albert Lea, Minn., the oldest son of Julius and Anna (Flaskerud) Flaskerud. He was baptized July 22, 1917, at Glenville Lutheran Church in Glenville, Minn. He and his parents moved to Calmar, in 1918, and he lived in the Calmar and Decorah, area his whole life. He was confirmed at Calmar Lutheran Church June 5, 1932. He attended school in Calmar and graduated from Calmar High School in 1935. He then worked as a farm employee for five years. Erick was united in marriage to Adeline E. “Ann” Steine Nov. 2, 1941, at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Oliver Fjelstad officiating. They started farming on the Sandager Farm one mile east of Calmar and four years later purchased a farm between Calmar and Decorah, where they farmed for over 20 years. In October 1968, they purchased a home in Minowa Heights in Decorah. Erick then worked in various United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies, including Soil Conservation Service (SCS), Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) and Crop and Livestock Statistical Reporting Service. Erick was a lifelong member of Calmar Lutheran Church and was very active, serving for many years as Sunday School superintendent; he also served on the church council and other committees, and sang in the church choir. He was an active member of Gideons International and a honorary lifetime member of National Active and Retired Federal Employees Associations (NARFE). Erick married Lucille (Gunderson) Ramlo June 29, 2002, at Calmar Lutheran Church and they enjoyed their honeymoon in Branson, Mo.

Erick is survived by his sister, Dorothy Halverson of Decorah; two step-daughters, Lois Liudahl of Bloomington, Minn. and Joyce (Dale) Gross of Atlantic; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Flaskerud of Decorah and Sue Steine of Winona, Minn.; and many special nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ann, Dec. 22, 2000; his second wife, Lucille, Nov. 1, 2013; one sister, Marie Hegtvedt Rindels; three brothers: Julius Flaskerud in infancy, Herman and Laurence Flaskerud; nine brothers-in-law: Orville Halverson, Richard Rindels, Arnold, Norman, Charles, James, Richard and Donald Steine, James Gunderson; two nephews, Kevin Halverson and Leslie Flaskerud; and two nieces, Shirley Flaskerud and Kimberly Flaskerud Henry McCabe.

Memorials may be directed to Calmar Lutheran Church, 200 N. East St., Calmar, IA 52132 or Music Therapy Program at Aase Haugen Senior Services, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, IA 52101.