Marion Elizabeth Erickson, 95, of Rock Island, Illinois, died Wednesday, September 23rd, at Friendship Manor in Rock Island.

Marion’s life will be celebrated at First Lutheran Church in Moline on Monday, September 28th, at 11:30am. Private burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery.

Marion was born in Moline, Illinois on February 2, 1931, the daughter of Gustav A. and Hulda Matilda (Nilsson) Carlson. Marion was raised in Moline and graduated from Moline High School in January of 1949. She was a very active high school student and served as an officer in many clubs and organizations. She especially enjoyed serving as the feature editor of the Moline High School student newspaper. She was the president of the Scandinavian Singers, a group of local Scandinavian high school girls who performed frequently at the Swedish Olive Club in Moline and throughout the Quad Cities. After graduating from high school, she organized most of her class reunions over the years.

Marion married her high school sweetheart, Paul M. Erickson, at Salem Lutheran Church in Moline on November 16, 1952. The couple lived in Tennessee and in Virginia while Paul was stationed in the US Navy, in Champaign, IL while Paul completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and in Chicago, IL while Paul completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. Marion worked as the coordinator of teacher placement at the University of Illinois. After Paul graduated from dental school, he and Marion established Paul’s dental practice and raised their two daughters in Rock Island. After Paul and Marion retired in 1996, they divided their time between Rock Island and Scottsdale, AZ. They celebrated over 72 years of marriage.

Marion was a member of First Lutheran Church, Moline and La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, AZ. She was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moline, where she served on various committees. She was active in many charitable organizations and was a member of the PEO sisterhood Chapter BL in Scottsdale, AZ, the Rock Island County Historical Society, and the Davenport Outing Club. She loved to entertain, and she hosted a Swedish Santa Lucia party every year at Christmastime. Marion and Paul had many close friends, and they enjoyed a very active social life. 

Marion is survived by her daughter, Dawn Watts (Michael) Denton, TX, daughter, Jane Erickson, Scottsdale, AZ, grandson Nicholas Watts of Denton, TX, grandson Michael Rosholm of Scottsdale, AZ, nephews Jack Bergstrom and Tom Jones, nieces Elizabeth Selander, Joan Kemna, and Deb Measells, and many great nieces and nephews.

Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Paul Erickson, her parents, sister Margaret Bergstrom and brother-in-law Robert Bergstrom, brother James Carlson and sister-in-law Joanne Carlson, sister-in-law Virginia Jones and brother-in-law Raymond Jones, niece Diane Boyington, and nephew Timothy Jones.

Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, Moline or to La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, AZ.