Marcella Mae Erickson

Marcella Mae Erickson, 89, of Willmar, died Tuesday, June 16th at her home. Private family services will be held and interment will be Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar. www.hafh.org

Marcella was born December 7, 1930, in Fergus Falls, MN, the daughter of William and Pearl (Graber) Messenger. She grew up in Fergus Falls, graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1948 and continued her education at Moorhead State and St. Cloud State, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1974.

On July 12, 1952, she was united in marriage to Louis Erickson in Fergus Falls. They lived in Olivia for two years before settling in Willmar where they lived ever since.

She taught for a number of years and also worked at Hallmark in Willmar for 19 years, retiring in 2000.

She is survived by her daughters, Mary (and Bing) Wall of Ames, IA; Barbara (and Ed) Downey of Willmar; and son, Paul (and Lyn) Erickson of Chanhassen; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings: William (and Marlene) Messenger of Fergus Falls; Eugene Messenger of Minneapolis and Helen (and Carl) Sundeen of Perham.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Louis, on June 4, 2004.