Kenneth Wayne Erickson

With the passing of Ken Erickson, another Portland area World War II veteran is gone. Born in Portland to Ruby and Joe Erickson, he was reared in rural Clackamas County, attended a one-room school, and graduated from Milwaukie High School to join the Army in 1945. He was stationed in Vienna, Austria to work alongside the people in restoring civil government, including housing to rightful owners.

Ken returned to Portland from America's role in helping rebuild the war zone to enroll in college, graduating from Lewis and Clark, and beginning a long career in education, teaching for ten years in Pendleton where his involvement in the Oregon Education Association led him to its statewide presidency in 1968-69. He moved to Corvallis and became the first regional representative of the NEA-OEA in its 'Uniserve' program, organizing teachers to negotiate contracts with individual school districts. He enrolled at the University of Oregon in a doctoral program, which focused upon teaching negotiating skills to avoid impasse and strikes. He earned his degree in 1970.

Later, he became superintendent of Perrydale School District, and while there he returned to the farming of his youth, settled in Polk County to become a cherry grower and in the last ten years, a vineyard owner.

He was married to Joan Bedell Erickson in 1969, and was the father or step-father of eight children: Jeffrey Erickson, Peter Erickson, Shelley Bedell, Kristin Bedell, Robin Bedell McWalters, Maren Erickson Tunks, Angela Erickson Denning, and Luke Erickson. He was grandfather to nineteen.

A memorial service will be conducted on April 4, 2015, 2:00 PM, at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Salem, 5090 Center Street, N.E., Salem.