Service Information
Lea Jeanne Erickson, age 98, of Waconia, Minnesota, formerly of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society in Waconia, Minnesota.
Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 30, 2023, from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M., with a luncheon, at the Mayer Community Center in Mayer, Minnesota. (413 Bluejay Avenue North)
Arrangements are with the Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe, Minnesota.
Obituary
Lea Jeanne Marie Hannotte was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Verviers, Belgium, the daughter of Jules and Josephine Hannotte.
She went to school through 10th grade and then continued with two years of seamstress schooling, which ended with the start of WWII.
During WWII, her mother and two sisters spent the early part trying to stay ahead of the German invasion. They walked, took trains, and car rides from strangers to get to Southern France, only to be put on a train and sent back to Belgium.
Lea met and fell in love with Donald Erickson, who was an active military American in 1944 during WWII. Lea was united in marriage to Donald July 10, 1945, in Verviers, Belgium. They shared over 72 years of marriage.
Lea worked at various jobs before becoming a private gardener for the late Mrs. John Pillsbury Sr. She was employed there for over 10 years before her retirement.
Her family was very important to her. She was a very caring person with a witt about her. She loved gardening, fishing, canvas painting, board games, and spending time at the cabin. She also enjoyed her winters in Arizona.
Lea was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Erickson, her son James Erickson, parents, sisters (three), brother, mother and father-in-law, brother and sisters-in-law, and best friends Beryl and Zelman Levine.
Lea is survived by her children, Don Erickson of Buffalo, Richard “Dick” Erickson of Mayer, Jeanne Salonek and Bruce Stacken of New Germany, Michele Furman of Wyoming, and John and Betty Erickson of New Germany, and daughter-in-law Karen Erickson of NYA. Also survived by her “other” children, Kreg and Lisa Levine, and Fred and Phyllis Radde.
She is further survived by grandchildren, Judy (Greg) Emerick, Brady (Amy) Erickson, Angella (Corey) Graves, Jessica (Ron) Bentz, Kristin (Mike) Kraemer, Mike Erickson (Ashley Ashbeck), Sandi Wahl, Nathan (Jamison) Erickson, Nicki (Alex) Nash, Jennifer Aretz (fiancée, Jesse Gagnon), Jon (Rachel) Erickson, and Cassie (Phil) Schneider, 25 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild; nieces and nephews, Pat (Lou) Manna, Anne Parsen, Marc Jounen, Jacqueline (Jean Louis) Junker, and Francoise Sauvage; other relatives and many friends.
Anne Jounen Parsons says
Thank you Tante Lea for the countless, wonderful memories of good times spent on the farm with you and the family, as well as the moments spent together on visits to Verviers. We certainly had some good laughs. I will miss you dearly. May you rest in peace. With love..
Anne
Jeanne salonek says
Thank you Anne, memories is what will get us through…..
Janet Beich Hall says
Jeanne and family.
So very sorry to hear of the passing of Lea, she was such a sweet lady. Thoughts, prayers, sympathies and hugs.
Jeanne salonek says
Thank you Janet, you were special to her also, she will be happier now with dad. Hugs to you too, Jeanne
Leon Worm says
I had the pleasure of Lea’s company and enjoyed the many conversations we had together during her stay at the Good Samaritan. We usually spoke twice a day and she always told me how she looked forward to our daily conversations. Truth is, I equally looked forward to each conversation. She walked me through her life as a teenager and the strife of living through WWII and all the way through her journey to the US and Minnesota. She was a wonderful lady and I do miss her. RIP Lea.
Leon Worm
Jeanne Salonek says
Thank you Leon, she missed you every day that she had left. Always asked if I had seen you anywhere, you were very kind to her.
Juncker Jacqueline says
Françoise and I will miss «tante Léa » very much. She was the youngest sister of our mother and the last representative of that generation With her we shared old memories.
Over time we met her several times in Belgium (where she came either alone or with her husband and part of her family) in Quebec, where she visited Françoise’s family or in Switzerland at Jacqueline´s.
A few years ago, in spite of her advanced age, she could still exchange e-mails with us. From time to time we also telephoned and astonishingly her French had….improved over the years!
When aunt Lea left Belgium after she married uncle Danny – at the end of World War II- I, Jacqueline, was still a little girl.
But in 1966, I came to NY with the AFS (American Field Service) as an exchange student and I flew to Minneapolis where I spent several days with aunt Lea and her family. It was a wonderful week. She was so warm-hearted, so joyful and full of energy.
She was only 32 but already the mother of 3 little boys and of baby Jeanne.
The couple was then planning to buy the farm in Waconia.
In 1989 we – Jean-Louis, Jacqueline Juncker and our sons David and Christophe – visited the Erickson family in Waconia. We had the pleasure to meet, for the first time, all our American cousins.
We Françoise Sauvage, Jacqueline Juncker and families are in thoughts with yaou on this day of mourning,
.
With love