Nona DeLoris Erickson

   Nona DeLoris Erickson, 98, of Mayville, ND died on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND.

   Nona DeLoris Erickson was born to Hannah and Peter Thoreson at their farm on September 1, 1924. Nona attended Lindaas Consolidated School and graduated from Mayville High School. She attended Mayville State College and graduated with a standard degree in education. She taught at the rural Buxton school for one year, at the rural Primrose school in Steele County for half a year, and in Cooperstown for one year. While in Primrose, Nona did not realize that she was teaching her future nieces and nephews, and that they were writing to their uncle Norman about their new beautiful school teacher.

   Nona married Norman Edwin Erickson at the North Prairie Church on October 6, 1946, and they farmed in Steele County. Nona was an active member of the Perry Lutheran Church throughout her life. She was a member of the Ladies Aid, taught Sunday School classes and music, and was the church organist for many years. She also was a leader of the Sugar and Spice 4-H Club in Steele County. In her later years, she spent the winter months in West Fargo at the Heritage Square Apartments and the rest of the year on the farm.

   Nona loved art, music, and gardening, and she instilled those interests in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She had fond memories of playing the pump organ in the home of her Grandpa Thoreson. He would sing hymns while she played. Later in life, Nona spent hours playing her favorite religious and patriotic songs on the piano or organ, and she also hand colored pictures she often gifted to her grandchildren. Nona inherited her love of gardening from her mother, and she enjoyed dreaming up ideas for expanding or reorganizing her many gardens on the farm, collectively called her Enchanted Garden. One of her greatest joys was to organize family gatherings and Halloween parties in the garden and set up the keyboard so she could lead sing-alongs.

   Norman and Nona participated in 4-H trips around the country and also traveled to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, Norway, England, and France. After Norman passed, Nona traveled with family members to New England, Disneyland, Chicago, New York City, Wisconsin, and Ann Arbor, MI. She enjoyed visiting relatives, seeing Broadway shows, visiting the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, exploring botanical gardens, and supporting her children’s, grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s activities.

   Nona  is survived by her brother: Peter Thoreson, Jr.; her six children: Gail (Mark Aaby), Lauren (Janice), Jayne (Timothy Swanson), Susan, Mylo (Lisa) and Mary (Jeffrey Browen); her eleven grandchildren: Dylan (Heidi) Abler, Valerie (Donald) Williams, Jennifer (Corey) Boushee, Christopher (Cassondra) Erickson, Laura (John) Schmidt, Cole Swanson (Kirsten Overdahl), Johanna Erickson (Tyler Boll), Levi Erickson, Jeremy Erickson, Colin (Courtney) Browen, and Tessa Browen; her seventeen great grandchildren: Taylor (Danielle) Abler, Devon (Nic) Tinney, Colvin (Cody) Mehlhoff, Nova (Brandon) Olson, Simon Abler, Dayton Abler, Ella Abler, Caffrey Abler, Ashley Williams, Elizabeth Williams, Evan (Victoria) Williams, Noah Boushee, Shay Boushee, Madeline Erickson, Carter Erickson, Mason Schmidt, and Olive Boll; and her two great great grandsons: Winston Abler and Luke Williams.

   Nona was preceded in death by her husband: Norman Edwin (d. 2000), her granddaughter: Briana Erickson Swanson (d. 1990) and her siblings: Alpha (Kenneth) Flaten, Howard (Betty Lou) Thoreson, Mayo (Loretta) Thoreson, and Eleanor (Harvey) Erickson.

Visitation:  Will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Funeral Service: Will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, June 30, 2023 at the Perry Lutheran Church in Portland, ND.

Burial: Will be in the Perry Cemetery in Portland, ND.