Beverly Erickson

Beverly Erickson, age 84, of Wheaton, Minnesota, passed away on December 15, 2025 at St. Gerard's Community Nursing Home in Hankinson, North Dakota. 

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton, with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Saturday morning, one hour prior to service time at the church. 

Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery at a later date.

Beverly was born on June 5, 1941, to Francis and Esther (Hormann) Hanson in Wheaton, Minnesota. She was baptized on December 4, 1941, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton. Beverly attended Wheaton High School and graduated with the Class of 1959.

Beverly met the love of her life, Bernard Erickson, on Main Street in Wheaton in July of 1958, when he stopped and asked if she would like to go for a cruise in his 1956 Ford convertible. It was love at first sight. The couple were married on December 3, 1959, and shared fifty-six wonderful years together before Bernard’s passing. Together, they purchased and operated a gas station at the intersection of Highway 75 and Highway 27 in Wheaton.

Throughout her life, Beverly held many roles and occupations. In addition to helping on the farm, she began working in town in 1969. She worked at Wheaton Oil beginning in 1971, served as a bookkeeper for the City of Wheaton, and worked at Crandall’s over the lunch hour. Beverly also assisted Crandall’s with catering, including events for nationally known entertainers during the Wheaton Fair. She kept the books for Erickson Station and Erickson Trucking and wrote weekly articles for the Wheaton Gazette, including: “Traverse County Museum Memories” and “Dumont News.” She even had a regular Facebook article that she posted titled the “Traverse County Historical Society and Museum.”

Beverly served as the curator of the Traverse County Museum for seventeen years. In addition to her role as curator, she served on the board, acted as secretary, and maintained the museum’s financial records. She devoted countless hours to the museum, a role she truly cherished, fueled by her deep love for preserving and sharing the history of her community.

Beverly had a genuine compassion for people and loved spending time visiting with friends and neighbors. She especially enjoyed sitting at the Home Bakery on Friday and Saturday mornings, visiting with local patrons. Beverly and Bernard shared a love for dancing and enjoyed traveling—not too far from home—to listen to bands and dance together. She also spent many hours in the garage working on cars alongside Bernard, fully capable and happy to lend a hand right beside him.

Beverly was survived by her son Ronald Erickson; grandchildren: Bernard M. Erickson, Nichole (Eric) Perez, Adam (Holly) Steger, Heather (Chris) Perry; and many great grandchildren.

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband Bernard Erickson; her parents Francis and Esther Hanson; son Bernard Eugene Erickson; sister Marion Bartells; and many in-laws and relatives.