Verna Elizabeth Erickson (nee Hasselton), age 88, descendant of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and longtime resident of Prior Lake, peacefully passed surrounded by her loving family and journeyed to the spirit world on Friday August 11, 2023.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Verna on Saturday, August 19 at 12 PM with a time of gathering beginning at 11 AM, all at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16150 Arcadia Ave, Prior Lake. Pastor Chad Gilbertson will preside.
Verna was born in Fosston, MN on January 28, 1935 to parents Werner and Elizabeth Hasselton. Verna was the second daughter of three. Upon graduating high school, she attended nursing school in Grand Forks North Dakota where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1956. While in Grand Forks, she joined the Army Nurse Corps, and was the first woman to work as a nurse on a military base in North Dakota. She was honorably discharged as a Second Lieutenant on October 11, 1961.
During her time in North Dakota, Verna would also meet her future husband Jim in 1957 while they served as attendants for Jim’s brother Ray’s wedding. Verna helped Jim’s mother cook a meal, and Jim was quickly prompted by his mom to “Marry that girl!” After a couple years of courtship, the pair were united in marriage on June 20, 1959. Jim was still a student at the time of their marriage, and Verna supported him through college- She even received a “Putting Hubby Through College” certificate!
Once both of them were out of college, they moved to St. Paul briefly before moving to White Sands, New Mexico. While in New Mexico, Verna worked as a nurse in a doctor’s office. After a short stint down south, they picked up and moved back to Minnesota where they built their first home on Lord’s/Martinson Island on Prior Lake. During this time in Prior Lake, they adopted their son, Doug. They were then on the move again, spending 2 years in the Marshall Islands. They moved back to their home in Prior Lake in 1970, and were blessed with the adoption of their daughter, Julie. It was at this time Verna retired, deciding to be a stay-at-home-mom with the kids. They lived on the lake for almost 30 years, where many wonderful memories were made. Verna spent her time watching the kids, perfecting her apple pie and strawberry jam recipes, and cooking all of the family’s favorites.
Verna’s family has many dear memories of time spent together fishing, traveling, or just being together to share a meal. Once Jim had retired, Verna and Jim began wintering with Verna’s sister Ione in Arizona to get away from the cold of Minnesota. In the later years of Verna’s life, she would still cook, go fishing, and loved to entertain family and friends. As her children got older, she was overjoyed to begin a new chapter in life- being a grandma! She adored her grandchildren, and always made sure they knew it.
Verna’s loving, kind, and generous nature will forever be missed by her husband of 64 years, Jim; children, Doug (Mary) and Julie (Rikk); grandchildren, Brady (Jen), Kaitlyn (Madison), Spencer, Kendra, Cole, Emma, Alex, and Mitchell (Lily); great grandchildren, Aaliyah, Xander, Maverick, Mekayla, and Mya; and sister Joan Nelson.
