Barbara Ellen (Bjerke) Erickson

Barbara Ellen (Bjerke) Erickson was born April 18, 1947, in Webster, SD, to Richard and Esther (Luvaas) Bjerke of rural Crocker, SD. She was baptized at the Crocker Lutheran Church as well as attended Sunday School and later, confirmed there. Barb attended school in Spring Valley Township through eighth grade and then moved on to Bradley High School.

Upon graduation, she enrolled at Northern State University and obtained a four-year degree in math education. Barb then joined Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) for one year of duty. Following that, she accepted a math teaching position at Galesburg, Illinois High School. It was there that she met James "Leif" Erickson and they married on December 27, 1970. They lived in Abingdon, Illinois and then back in Galesburg until 1975, when they moved to Arvada, CO, a Denver suburb, where she taught math at Wheatridge High School for fifteen years. They then moved to Watertown, SD, and she helped form NOVA, the alternative high school in 1991 and taught there until 2003. At that time, she also began teaching career education at the Watertown Multi-District. In 2015, she retired but remained a faithful substitute instructor in any of the areas taught there. Leif passed away in August, 2020. Three years later, she moved into 200 Maple Place and enjoyed eight months there.

She was an active member of the Crocker Lutheran Church, currently being the treasurer of the WELCA, a past member of the church council and a valuable member of their quilting group. Barb also served as treasurer for Our Saviors Lutheran and the Calvary Lutheran Churches near Bradley. She was a member of the Beta Delta Sorority in Watertown doing community service and volunteer work.  She also belonged to the Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an altruistic organization for female educators, serving on the state and local executive boards.

Barb passed away January 12, 2024, at Prairie Lakes Hospital surrounded by her loving family. A visitation will be held from 4-6 PM with a prayer service beginning at 6PM will be held January 20, 2024, at Furness Funeral Home in Clark, SD. A Celebration of Life and burial will occur later in the spring at Calvary Lutheran Cemetery near Bradley, SD. Barb's prayer service will be live streamed and may be viewed at the time of service on the Furness Funeral Home Facebook page. Barb's service may also be viewed in the video below.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Esther and her husband, James "Leif" Erickson.

Survivors include her brother, Mike (Marla) Bjerke, nephew, Ryan (Becky) Bjerke and children Arabella and Atlas, nephew Chad (Amanda) Bjerke and children Luke and Lexi, niece Jenna (Michael) Beverly and their son, Devery.

Furness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com .