Erick Godfrey ERICKSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1957-MN-021052
• Occupation: Mason, bricklayer
• Social Security Number: 468-16-4879 According To His Death Certificate
• Baptism: 14 Nov 1886, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Notes:

In the 1910 census, Erick G., 23, and Ella L., 16, newly married (married 0 years), were living in a rented house in the village of Bethel in Anoka County. Ella is shown as having had zero children although she would have been pregnant with Bernice at the time. Erick’s occupation is shown as bricklayer.

Registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, in Bethel as Eric Godfrey Ericson although he seemed to sign his name Erickson. He lived in Bethel and was employed as a brick layer by Eric Nord of Bethel. He was married and had a wife and two children. He also claimed that he had had previous military service (1 year and 9 months) as a Private in the Marines. He was described as of medium height and build with blue eyes and “flaxen” hair.

Living in the village of Bethel, Anoka County, St. Francis Township at the time (Monday, February 2nd) of the 1920 census.

In the 1930 census, he and his wife and two youngest children live in a multi-family residence at 300 South Broadway in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is E G Ericson, a bricklayer. He was not a veteran.

DHC remembers that Erick and Ella had a restaurant or tavern, probably run mainly by Ella. They made great hamburgers and also had slot machines (”old fashioned but working”) in their restaurant. DHC said that Ella was a big woman and that “nobody fooled with her.”

Lived in Lake George, Minnesota in 1940.

In the 1940 census, Eric Erickson, 53, his wife Ella, 46, Hartley Thompson, 24, son-in-law, Helen Thompson, 20, daughter, and Beverly Thompson, a few months, granddaughter, live in Oak Grove Twp in Anoka County. Eric runs a “beer tavern.” Hartley is a lineman for a rural electric company. All were born in Minnesota. Eric and Ella had a fifth-grade education, Hartley eighth-grade, and Helen two years of high school.

According to Cora’s diary, Erick and Ella moved to Corvallis, Oregon, in early 1944 to live near or with Ella’s parents. (Ella’s mother died at the Erickson home in Corvallis in 1947 according to Melissa’s obit.)

In the 1951 Corvallis, Oregon, city directory, he (as Eric G) and “Ellen E” live at 1925 E Grant, RD#4. He is a bricklayer.

In the 1953 Corvallis directory, he and Ella are still at 1925 E Grant. Erick G Erickson is a brick mason. That’s the address that Cora had in her travel diary from about that same time.

In the 1955 Corvallis directory, Erick G and Ella L Erickson still live at 1925 E Grant. Erick is a bricklayer.

He is not listed in the 1956 Corvallis city directory.

Erick and Ella may have still lived in Corvallis, and/or they may have returned to Minnesota, in the fall of 1955. The entry in Cora’s diary for November 5, 1955, suggests that Erick and Ella had “just got to Minn.”

Living in Bethel at the time of his death.

According to his great-niece Vivian, Erick died by falling into a fire while ice fishing and burning and/or drowning. From Cora’s diary, he was burned on December 31, 1956, and, apparently, died four weeks later. This is confirmed in his death certificate. He had a heart attack or stroke while ice fishing on a lake in Onamia (perhaps Lake Mille Lacs). He then fell against the stove in the fish house and his clothing ignited. He died from infection resulting from the 40% 3rd degree burns. His body was not autopsied.

His funeral service was at 11 AM at the Albinson-Peterson funeral home, 1838 Central Avenue.

Death Certificate:

ERICKSON, ERICK G. CertID# 1957-MN-021052   
 Date of Birth: 10/18/1896 {Birth year is off by 10 years}
 Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
 Mother Maiden Name: JOHNSON  
 Date of Death: 01/27/1957
 County of Death: HENNEPIN

Birth:
Cora notes that she attended “Eric’s 70th” on October 18, 1956.

Baptism:
Bethlehem Lutheran, as Erik Gottfred

Died:
Died at 2:00 PM according to Cora’s diary. His death certificate says 2:10 PM.

Buried:
Lot 11, Blk 14, Sec 1

Erick married Ella Lorraine HUGHES on 14 Oct 1909 in Anoka County, Minnesota. Ella (daughter of Henry Thomas HUGHES and Melissa BULLIS) was born on 31 Mar 1894 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; died on 4 Apr 1964 in Isanti County, Minnesota; was buried in Oak Leaf Cemetery, Bethel, Anoka County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1910-00326
• Oregon Death Certificate: 72-06707
• Social Security Number: 540-18-9440 Issued In Oregon Before 1951.

Notes:

In the 1930 census, she is probably be the Bernice Erickson, age 19, living in Minneapolis. She is a maid for a private family. Although that Bernice is shown as born in Minnesota, her father is shown as born in Nebraska and her mother born in England. It’s possible that the census enumerator got confused about the parentage of the three roomers living with the Teitzal family.

Bernice was the first in her family to move to Oregon. In the 1940 census, she and Jack La Rocque lived in Corvallis in a rental apartment. She had married at age 24 and was employed as a waitress in a cafe. She had lived in the “same place” in 1935. She had had 3 years of high school, Jack had had two. Jack was a traffic officer for the city of Corvallis.

She was living in The Dalles, Oregon, at the time of her father’s death.

Bernice married John Peter LA ROCQUE about 1934. John was born on 7 Jul 1914; died on 24 Nov 1988 in The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1916-12797

Notes:

Indexed in MHS birth index as “Dorwood Dean.” Durward Ericson in the SSDI.

He was truck driver at the time of his marriage to Larayne.

In the 1941 Rockford, Illinois, city directory, he was a “driver” living at 707 Woodlawn Avenue.

In the 1942 Rockford directory, he was a salesman for Nehi Bottling Co. He and Lorayne lived at 837 N Court.

In the 1944 Minneapolis city directory, he was a serviceman for SR&Co (probably Sears). He and LaRayne lived at 1838 Polk.

Durward served in the Navy in World War II. He enlisted on May 29, 1944, and he was released from service on December 4, 1945. Durward served on the Shasta in 1944 and on the Cabell in 1945.

He and LaRayne were still at the 1838 Polk address in the 1946 Minneapolis directory.

Living in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, at the time of his father’s death.

Durward was a pallbearer at Bess’s funeral.

“Mr. and Mrs. Durward Erickson” signed Bess’s funeral guestbook. Their address, noted by Elaine for the thank-you, was 2303 Maiden Lane, Minneapolis 21.

His obit in the Tampa Tribune, 12 Nov 1971 edition:

Durward D. Ericson, 55, 3303 15th St. W., died Wednesday. A retired refrigeration engineer, he came here two and a half years ago from Minneapolis, Minn., and was a World War II veteran. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Larayne N. Ericson; two sons and two sisters.

Birth:
SSDI and Florida Deaths put his birthday as May 27th

Died:
Bradenton per SSDI

Durward married Larayne Dorothy NORLING on 24 Nov 1937 in Northwood, Worth County, Iowa. Larayne (daughter of Andrew NORLING and Esther LARSON) was born on 6 Nov 1917 in Isanti County, Minnesota; died on 11 Jul 1993 in Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida; was buried in Mansion Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Ellenton, Manatee County, Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1920-00517
• Oregon Death Certificate: 94-21207
• Social Security Number: 468-20-0850

Notes:

Born as Vivian Helen.

In the 1940 census, she and Hartley, with their daughter Beverly, lived with Eric and Ella in Oak Grove Twp, Anoka County, Minnesota.

Living in Corvallis, Oregon, at the time of her father’s death.

At the time of her mother’s death in 1964, she was Mrs. James A Goodman, 1911 Menlo Drive, Corvallis, Oregon.

The U.S. Public Records Index, Vol. 2, shows her living at 1156 SW 11th Ave, Ontario, Oregon, as Helen V Goodman. James A Goodman lives at that same address.

Her obit in the Corvallis newspaper:

Helen V. Goodman, an Ontario resident who lived in Corvallis for much of her life, died Monday at at her home. She was 74.

She was born in Bethel, Minnesota, to Erick and Ella Hughes Erickson. She moved with her family to Corvallis where she completed her schooling. She married James A Goodman on January 22, 1944, in Vancouver, Washington. The couple lived in El Centro, California, before returning to Corvallis in December of 1944. They moved to Ontario in October of 1979.

She was interested in painting, sewing, crafts, and gardening.

She is survived by her husband, three grandsons, and eight great-grandchildren.

(Her daughter Beverly, is not mentioned in the obituary alhough Beverly’s children and grandchildren are. Presumably, Beverly wrote the obituary but forgot to list herself as surviving.)

Buried:
as Helen V Goodman

Family/Spouse: Hartley Samuel THOMPSON. Hartley was born on 23 Dec 1915 in Isanti County, Minnesota; died on 7 Dec 1995 in Anoka County, Minnesota; was buried in West Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove Twp, Anoka County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Helen married James Albert GOODMAN on 22 Jan 1945 in Clark County, Washington. James was born on 16 Oct 1922 in Tennessee; died on 30 Mar 2001 in Camden, Benton County, Tennessee; was buried in Crystal Lake Masonic Cemetery, Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was born Ericson and that is the spelling of the last name used by his father.

On February 11, 1974, then a 30 year-old policeman for Blaine, Minnesota, he stole $800 worth of tools from an auto body shop. Authorities said he was on duty at the time of the early-morning break-in. He was arrested and charged with felonious theft and burglary. He had been a Blaine policeman for 8 years. He resigned from the Blaine police force on the day of his arrest, February 14, 1974.

Lived in Gainesville, Georgia, in 1993. At that time, his wife’s name was Patricia.

Birth:
Entries in U.S. Public Records, Vol. 1, indicate 15 Sep 1943 and 1 Sep 1942

Lyle married B.C. SONNENBERG [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: P.A. TINSLEY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Bergams lived at 1133 SW 7th Avenue in Ontario, Oregon, between 1987 and 1993.

Not mentioned in Hartley Thompson’s obituary.

Obituary of Beverly Bergam

Beverly Rhea Bergam, 83, Ontario, went to be with the Lord on May 2, 2022 surrounded by her family.

She was born in Bethel, Minnesota. She would often recall her first memories of childhood performing on the stage of her grandparents’ large rustic hotel and diner. She would tell how the patrons would toss coins onto the stage and how it frightened her. She would gather the coins up and hurriedly retreat to the kitchen and deposit the coins through a hole that was in the wall.

She would then tell of traveling to Oregon on a train with her mother Helen to live with relatives living there.

While in Corvallis her mother met a handsome young man from Tennessee who would soon become the Corvallis chief of police and Mom's stepfather. Beverly attended schools in Corvallis, eventually graduating from its high chool in 1956. Sometime after graduating Mom met Ramon Bergam from Nyssa, Oregon, who was at that time a student at OSU. Their romance blossomed and by 1958 they were married.

The newlyweds moved back to Nyssa where they would soon welcome their first son, Brian, into the world. They eventually moved to Mountain Home where Ramon worked for McCaslin Lumber Company. While in Mountain Home they welcomed their second son, Greg.

Ramon took a job with the Oregon State Police and moved his growing family to Ontario, Oregon. Beverly settled comfortably into being a doting mother and soon would welcome their third son, Mark. Ramon and Beverly raised their boys in a loving household in Ontario, cheering them on and sometimes coaching them through the many sports and activities that they participated in.

As the boys grew older, Beverly took on the job of being an Avon Lady, a job that she found great satisfaction in and through which she made many lifelong friends. Ramon worked for the OSP many years despite having to deal with MS and the recurring setbacks that illness would sometimes present. After 24 years with OSP, Ramon retired and Beverly took on a whole new roll as caregiver. Ramon passed away in 2002 after a long battle with MS. Beverly provided love and care to the very end.

During those years and the years to follow, while always having a sunny and cheerful attitude, Beverly was dealing with many different health issues that would eventually take their toll on her. During her life she enjoyed camping, fishing, gardening, cooking and painting, the last two of which she did exceptionally well. She enjoyed every minute that she could spend with her growing family, especially her grandchildren. She always told us that every person that she considered a friend, was a friend to the end.

Beverly was proceeded in death by her husband of 44 years, Ramon Bergam, her parents Jim and Helen Goodman, a sister Carol Anne and infant brother Jim. Also preceding Beverly in death were Ramon’s parents, Herbert and Alice Bergam, Beverly’s brothers-in-Law Don and Lurelle Bergam, her daughter-in-law Suzanne Bergam, her daughter-in-law Grace Bergam, her infant granddaughter Brittany Bergam, and her grandson Brian Crabb.

Beverly leaves behind the loving family members of Brian Ray Bergam (Julia), Gregory Duane Bergam (Debbie), Mark Donald Bergam (Laurie), grandchildren Nigel, Brooke, Bryce (Nicole), Sheena, Kylie (Bob), Arielle, and great-grandchildren Reid, Haven, Aiden, Kayla, Jacob, Natalie, Paisley and Stetson.

Beverly married Ramon Warner BERGAM on 14 Jun 1958 in Benton County, Oregon. Ramon was born on 22 Mar 1935 in Montana; died on 22 Apr 2002 in Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Referred to as Jimmy Albert in his sister Carol’s obituary.

Birth:
The cemetery information in “Find a Grave” shows his birthdate as 27 Jul 1945.

Died:
The cemetery information in “Find a Grave” shows his death date as 12 Nov 1945. So does the obit for his sister Carol.

Buried:
as Jimmie A

Other Events and Attributes:

• Oregon Death Certificate: 3036

Notes:

She had graduated from Corvallis High School in 1965.

She died due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. She and her boyfriend, Orville Hockema Jr., were parked on a rural road. The car had a defective exhaust system and the tail pipe was partially collapsed. Both were found dead on Saturday morning.

Birth:
The Crystal Lake Masonic Cemetery information gives her date of birth as 3 Nov 1947.