Bertha Mae Erickson
January 28, 1921 — March 28, 2011
Bertha Mae (Soule) Erickson, known as “Nook” to family, died on Monday, March 28, 2011 at Eureka Nursing Center in Eureka at the age of 90.
She was born on January 28, 1921 in Pontiac, Kansas in Butler County to Freeman Wilbur and Sarah E. (Cronk) Soule. The eldest of 16 children, Bertha lived with her family at Pontiac and Rosalia before the family moved to Eureka to operate the Sunnydale Hatchery.
Bertha attended schools in Rosalia and Eureka before transferring to Piedmont High School for her senior year. During that year, she completed High school and Normal Training. She also attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. She taught in a rural school in Elk County, then at Flint Ridge School in the northwest area of Greenwood County. It was while she was teaching at Flint Ridge that she met and married her husband, Oliver Christopher (Chris) Erickson. They were married on December 28, 1940 in Yates Center. Bertha was supportive of Chris, during his years as a ranch hand and manager of Burnt Creek ranch at Reece by working with him as well as preparing meals for ranch hands. To this union 4 children were born: Maurice, Dean, Charlotte Oliver Turner, and Christine Hill.
Bertha made a home for her family and was involved in activities with them, especially 4-H where she was a club leader, project leader, and supporter of both the Spring Creek Rooters and Upper Fall River Jayhawkers for over 25 years. During her life, Bertha was involved in Extension Units at Reece, Upper Fall River Ladies Aid of the Presbyterian Church in Reece, WELCA of Christ Lutheran Church, Greenwood County Historical Society, and the Soule Kindred in America. She could proudly trace ancestry back to Pilgrim George Soule who came to America on the Mayflower. Bertha wrote the Upper Fall River news column for the Eureka Herald for several years.
Bertha cooked lunch at Holverson School, drove students to Eureka for school, worked at the Eureka Locker, and then worked at Eureka High School monitoring the study hall for 19 years. In later years, she made quilts and machine quilted thousands of quilts for family and friends. During all these years, she was an avid gardener. Bertha was a caregiver, opening her home to siblings and other family members to come live with her and Chris for a day, a week, or months. She paid in advance by providing loving care for hour husband, mother, brothers-in-law, daughter, and granddaughter near the end of their lives. During the past year, her granddaughter, Nancy Wade has done the same for Bertha by being her primary caregiver until her move to Eureka Nursing Center.
As a child Bertha joined the Congregational Church in Eureka. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church. Until her health limited her activity, Bertha was able to accompany Pastor Maureen to the Upper Fall River Norwegian Church for services.
Bertha is survived by 3 of her children, Maurice, Dean, and Christine. She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Susan Erickson Johnson, Jennifer Erickson Ricker, Nancy Erickson Wade, Kim Erickson Dawson, Brad Erickson, Brian Erickson, Cathy Oliver, Chris Oliver, Judy Hill, and Sarah Hill. She is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild, four brothers, and eight sisters also survive Bertha. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Charlotte, three granddaughters, Kimberly Dawn Oliver, Sandy Oliver, and Cherry Erickson. Three sisters also preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, March 31, 2011 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Eureka. Interment will follow at Upper Fall River Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Upper Fall River Church care of the Christ Lutheran Church or the Greenwood County Historical Society. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
She was born on January 28, 1921 in Pontiac, Kansas in Butler County to Freeman Wilbur and Sarah E. (Cronk) Soule. The eldest of 16 children, Bertha lived with her family at Pontiac and Rosalia before the family moved to Eureka to operate the Sunnydale Hatchery.
Bertha attended schools in Rosalia and Eureka before transferring to Piedmont High School for her senior year. During that year, she completed High school and Normal Training. She also attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. She taught in a rural school in Elk County, then at Flint Ridge School in the northwest area of Greenwood County. It was while she was teaching at Flint Ridge that she met and married her husband, Oliver Christopher (Chris) Erickson. They were married on December 28, 1940 in Yates Center. Bertha was supportive of Chris, during his years as a ranch hand and manager of Burnt Creek ranch at Reece by working with him as well as preparing meals for ranch hands. To this union 4 children were born: Maurice, Dean, Charlotte Oliver Turner, and Christine Hill.
Bertha made a home for her family and was involved in activities with them, especially 4-H where she was a club leader, project leader, and supporter of both the Spring Creek Rooters and Upper Fall River Jayhawkers for over 25 years. During her life, Bertha was involved in Extension Units at Reece, Upper Fall River Ladies Aid of the Presbyterian Church in Reece, WELCA of Christ Lutheran Church, Greenwood County Historical Society, and the Soule Kindred in America. She could proudly trace ancestry back to Pilgrim George Soule who came to America on the Mayflower. Bertha wrote the Upper Fall River news column for the Eureka Herald for several years.
Bertha cooked lunch at Holverson School, drove students to Eureka for school, worked at the Eureka Locker, and then worked at Eureka High School monitoring the study hall for 19 years. In later years, she made quilts and machine quilted thousands of quilts for family and friends. During all these years, she was an avid gardener. Bertha was a caregiver, opening her home to siblings and other family members to come live with her and Chris for a day, a week, or months. She paid in advance by providing loving care for hour husband, mother, brothers-in-law, daughter, and granddaughter near the end of their lives. During the past year, her granddaughter, Nancy Wade has done the same for Bertha by being her primary caregiver until her move to Eureka Nursing Center.
As a child Bertha joined the Congregational Church in Eureka. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church. Until her health limited her activity, Bertha was able to accompany Pastor Maureen to the Upper Fall River Norwegian Church for services.
Bertha is survived by 3 of her children, Maurice, Dean, and Christine. She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Susan Erickson Johnson, Jennifer Erickson Ricker, Nancy Erickson Wade, Kim Erickson Dawson, Brad Erickson, Brian Erickson, Cathy Oliver, Chris Oliver, Judy Hill, and Sarah Hill. She is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild, four brothers, and eight sisters also survive Bertha. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Charlotte, three granddaughters, Kimberly Dawn Oliver, Sandy Oliver, and Cherry Erickson. Three sisters also preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, March 31, 2011 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Eureka. Interment will follow at Upper Fall River Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Upper Fall River Church care of the Christ Lutheran Church or the Greenwood County Historical Society. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
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