James D. Erickson, 80

James Dale Erickson, 80, of Lake Bronson, Minn., passed away at the Kittson Memorial Nursing Home on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
James “Jimmy Dale” “Jim” “Red” was born on Aug. 8, 1945, at the Kittson War Veterans Memorial Hospital in Hallock, Minn., to Elmer and Myrtle (Martinson) Erickson. He grew up in rural Halma, Minn., before moving to Lake Bronson. He attended school in Lake Bronson, where he graduated in 1963. James joined the U.S. Navy, attending basic training in Great Lakes, Ill., and aircraft maintenance training in Jacksonville, Fla., before serving in the aircraft maintenance department on the “USS Coral Sea,” traveling between Hawaii, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Korea during the Vietnam War before his discharge in 1971.
James was united in marriage to Sally Tanner on April 14, 1973. He worked at Arctic Cat in Karlstad until their closing and then seasonally for several area farmers until he started working at Lake Bronson State Park as a buildings and grounds worker until his retirement.
He was the owner of Jim’s Minnows, supplying bait to those fishing on Lake Bronson, which later transitioned into Jim’s Greenhouse. The greenhouse was Sally’s passion, but James would spend winters helping with everything behind the scenes until their doors opened on May 1 each year for 35 years. His true passions were fishing and hunting, and he had a lifelong dream that came true when he was able to purchase his own hunting land in 2023.
James is survived by: his son, Deric (Kim) Erickson, Halma; daughter, Jenica (Jon) Swenson, Lake Bronson; grandchildren, Sierra (Jacob) England, Hawthorne, Calif., Brita Swenson, Karlstad, Minn., Braxton Swenson, Lake Bronson, Bradyn Swenson, Greenbush, Minn., and Dannica Erickson, Halma; sister, Phyllis Klegstad, Lake Bronson; sisters-in-law, Jean Erickson, Lake Bronson, Betty Moen, Thief River Falls, Minn.; brothers-in-law, Archie (Sally) Tanner, Glyndon, Minn., and Gary (Opal) Tanner, Middle River, Minn.
James was preceded in death by: his wife, Sally; a son, Jamie Erickson; his parents, Elmer and Myrtle Erickson; in-laws, Floyd and Junis Tanner; brother, Rodney Erickson; brothers-in-law, Marvin Moen and Dale Klegstad.
James’ private family service will be held at Austin Funeral Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at 11 a.m. with interment at Riverside Cemetery in Lake Bronson following.
In lieu of flowers or cards, the family asks that you please send a donation to the Kittson County Historical Society at the following address:
Kittson County Historical Society, 332 East Main Street, Lake Bronson, MN 56734.
Austin Funeral Chapel, Hallock, is in charge of the arrangements. www. austinfuneralchapel.com.