Obituary - Donald H. Erickson

Monday, December 28, 1998
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Former Juneau resident Donald Hollis Erickson, 68, died Dec. 21, 1998, at his home in Clatskanie, Ore.

He was born Sept. 17, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., to George and Jewel (McDonald) Erickson. He grew up in Fontana, Calif., and graduated from Fontana High School. He graduated from Humboldt State College in 1951 with a degree in art.

In 1952 he married Alice Drewick, and they had five sons. They moved to Longview, Wash. in 1954, and Erickson took a job teaching art at R.A. Long High School. He taught there for 25 years, and in the summers he operated the charter boat Vernon and owned and operated Big Dipper Salmon Charters.

He was known for his fishing expertise, his abilities as a charter skipper and his knowledge of the Columbia River bar, a notoriously difficult area to navigate.

In 1976 he married Margaret Erickson. In 1980 he moved to Juneau and taught fishery technology and seamanship at the University of Alaska Juneau. During the summers he operated the University's research vessel, and owned and operated the charter boat Little Dipper.

He was preceded in death by his son Garth Erickson. He is survived by his wife Margaret Erickson of Clatskanie; sons Brad Erickson of Naselle, Wash., Rex Erickson of Illwaco, Wash., and Jon and Erick Erickson, both of Longview, Wash.; stepdaughters Cheryl Quinn and Kathy Blakley, both of Anchorage, and Kristi Assink of Juneau; and his sister Maryln Magland of Port Angeles, Wash. He is also survived by several grandchildren.

Memorial services were held today in Oregon.

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