Clara Anna Erickson's Obituary
Clara Erickson
Clara Anna Louise Elsie Knoop was born to William and Bertha Knoop on March 2, 1918, in
Bismarck, North Dakota, second of two daughters. Clara and her sister, Elfrieda, were baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
Clara grew up on her parent’s homestead near Hazen, No. Dakota. Her grandfather, Edward Heinemeyer, immigrated from Germany and was the first homesteader in Mercer County, No. Dakota. She loved working on the farm and received great satisfaction from helping her parents. When she had the opportunity, she also loved wandering the prairie by herself. She attended rural schools, and did not often miss attendance in spite of walking long distances and the cold winters. After graduating from Hazen High School in 1935, Clara worked in her uncle’s drug store in Sydney, Montana, thinking she might become a pharmacist. However, the next fall she enrolled at Dickenson State Teacher’s College, and then taught for four years in rural schools.
During these years of teaching, she roomed with the Erickson family on their farm, and it was here that she met and fell in love with one of the sons, Reuben. He soon traveled to California to find work and to build a future there together.
Clara soon followed him West, and they married June 20, 1942, in Bethel Lutheran Church by Pastor Roe.
They made their home in No. Sacramento where they lived for 47 years.
There they had four daughters, Patricia Ellen, Kathryn Louise, Sandra Jean, and Lori Lynn.
Clara loved sewing, and enjoyed sewing for the needs of the family. She taught her daughters to sew well, and made all their clothes as they grew up, including special Easter dresses every year. She also liked to work in her yard and had a wonderful green thumb. Her passion for gardening and beautiful flowers began as a small child on the farm. Through the years the family enjoyed many road trips and summer vacations in North Dakota to visit relatives.
Clara and Reuben were long time members of Bethel Lutheran Church. Clara taught Sunday School for many years, and was its treasurer for 20 years. She took part in the Bethel women’s group and held a number of offices through the years. The office of Stewardship especially interested her. During this time she involved some women in quilting, and many hundreds of quilts were made by them and sent to needy areas in other countries. In the early years the women joined others in Modesto and San Francisco to send the quilts overseas, and later they were given locally and to Lutheran Social Services.
In the summer of 1973 she created a group to make Chrismons, , and by Christmas enough were made to decorate the church tree.
In 1989 Reuben and Clara moved to Rio Linda. After Reuben’s retirement they became members of an RV travel club, the Midweek Sam’s. They enjoyed many outings with the group until health problems caused them to withdraw. Reuben and Clara also became members of the Senior Gleaners, and were very active for 25 years. In 1996 Clara began sewing lap robes with the Senior Gleaner’s sewing group. These were given to convalescent homes.
In 2002 Reuben and Clara moved from Rio Linda to an assisted living apartment at Hazel Creek, in Orangevale, where Clara continued to live for 15 years following Reuben’s passing in 2003. They had been blessed with a long and happy marriage of 61 years. Clara continued to enjoy gardening, and received many awards for her showy patio plants and flowers. She looked forward to weekly dinners and holiday get togethers with her family, and had many adventures when all four daughters gathered to celebrate her and to be together.
Clara was honored this March 2 for her 100th birthday with a gathering of her nieces, nephews, friends and family- a most joyous celebration! Relatives whom mom longed to see once more, traveled to celebrate her and be with her.
For the last couple of years, health issues became more serious for Clara.
She moved to All Seasons after her birthday, where she could receive around-the-clock care. She spent her last days surrounded by her four daughters, and in her last hours held by them until she passed on May 18 shortly after midnight. We all love her and miss her every day.
Clara is survived by her daughters Patricia Hensley, Kathryn and Jim Slutzi, Sandra and Ted Andersen, and Lori and Steve Nelson; five grandchildren, Jason Slutzi, Jamie Trykar, Erik Andersen, Kirsten Nelson, and Maren Nelson; five great grandchildren, Catelyn and Hannah Ellutzi, and Addison, Kadence, and Ryleigh Trykar; nieces and nephews William Goetz, Josh Goetz, Denny Goetz, Rosetta Weitendorf, Margie Goetz, Tom Goetz, and David Goetz, Jean Marie Michaelis, Arlene Bentley, Suzanne Foss, and Myron Netzer.
Clara is preceded in death by her husband Reuben; parents; and her sister Elfrieda Goetz.
The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to Brookdale Orangevale and All Seasons Pheasant Ridge for their loving care of Clara.
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