Ramona Lavonne Erickson

Ramona Lavonne Erickson was born September 5, 1927, and went to be with the Lord on April 9, 2025 at the age of 97. Ramona was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Alma and George Burke. She was baptized November 6, 1927 in Langford, South Dakota.

Ramona grew up in Aberdeen, Doland, and Watertown, South Dakota. She graduated from high school in Watertown, South Dakota. After graduation, Ramona worked in the courthouse processing veteran paperwork, and then at Memorial Hospital in Watertown, where she met her future husband, Ralph Erickson. Ramona and Ralph were married on July 14, 1954 at Grace Lutheran Church. Ramona claimed at the time she married that she didn’t know how to cook. In 1958 Ramona and Ralph moved to Butte, Montana, relocated to Denver in 1962, then to Atlanta, Georgia in 1980, before returning to Denver in 1985.

Ramona was a housewife and mother and built her skills as a wonderful cook and baker. She made beautiful wedding cakes, gingerbread houses, and was known as the Lefse Queen by family and friends in the Sons of Norway and Norsemen of the Rockies communities where she was a member for many years. Among many other hobbies, Ramona was a talented quilter who also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and painting. She once crocheted 100 dolls for an African outreach program.

Ramona was the family story teller and historian, and, well into her 90’s, spent many hours delving into the family history on Ancestry. The research resulted in the discovery of many extended relatives with whom she spent time sharing and gathering family history.

Ramona was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph, and her sisters, Delores Johnson and Donna Dalton. She is survived by her brother, Gordon W. Burke, and children Roger Erickson, Beth [Jerry Winemiller] Erickson, Ronald [Linda] Erickson, and Heidi Erickson, 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many dearly-loved cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held April 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Joy Lutheran Church in Parker, Colorado, along with a memorial service to be held at Memorial Park in Watertown, SD on June 14.