Duane "Swede" Daryl Erickson
A graveside service will be held August 24, 2024, at 10:00 am at Schafer Cemetery in Watford City, ND with Pastor Matt Rolfson officiating. A luncheon will follow the service at the First Lutheran Church in Watford City, ND. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Watford City, ND is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.
Duane Daryl "Swede" Erickson passed away on July 17, 2024, at the age of 88 at Campbell County Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
Swede was born in Fairview, Montana on June 22, 1936, the only child of Jeanette (Gue) and Elmer Erickson. He was raised in Watford City, North Dakota and attended Watford City High School where he played baseball, football and basketball. After graduating in 1955, Swede attended Minot State Teaching College for a year. He entered the US Army in1958 and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Spokane, Washington. Swede told stories of driving for chow six times a day and for higher ranking officers. He was honorably discharged in 1960 after two years of service.
On November 17,1961, Swede was united in marriage to Della Mae Olson at First Lutheran in Watford City, North Dakota. To this union, three children were born: Leann, Lori and Dean. During their 49-year marriage, Swede and Della Mae lived in the following towns in North Dakota; Watford City, Tiago, Westhope. In 1969, the family moved to Cut Bank, MT, Havre, MT in 1974, and Gillette, WY in 1981. After retiring, Della Mae and Swede moved to Watford City. Nine years after Della Mae passed, Swede moved back to Gillette, WY to be closer to his daughters, grandsons and great-grandchildren.
During his lifetime, Swede hauled water for his dad, worked for Halliburton for 24 years and drove school bus for the Campbell County School District in Gillette for 17 years. He loved coaching midget-basketball for the Campbell County Recreation Center especially when his grandsons were younger. Swede loved to play golf, go fishing and camping. He was very good at doing leather work and continued working on it up to the last year of his life. Swede loved watching the old westerns and the classic country western music. He was known for tinkering with devices to make them better.
Swede is survived by his daughters: Leann Erickson and Lori Cooper, both of Gillette; three grandchildren Jake Cooper and Jason (Shelby), both of Gillette, and Krystle Folland of Athol, Idaho; four great-grandchildren Kiera Cooper, Sydney Cooper, and Jack Cooper all of Gillette and Eve Cooper of Michigan; sisters-in-law Elaine (Gene) Fedorenko of Watford City, ND and Charlene Olson of Keene, ND; two nieces Teri (Tim) Taylor of Watford City, ND and Julie Fedorenko of Phoenix, AZ; four nephews Jim Fedorenko of Grand Forks, ND, Doug Olson of Keene, ND, Todd Olson of Sheridan, WY and Scott (Loni) of Devils Lake, ND; four grandnieces, and four grandnephews.
Swede was preceded in death by his parents Jeanette and Elmer Erickson, his wife Della Mae, one son, Dean, son-in-law, George Cooper and one nephew, Wayne Olson.
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