Erika U. Crawford

Private memorial services will be held at a later date for Erika U. Crawford, age 80 of Waite Park, formerly of Richmond who passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids. Inurnment will take place at the North Star Cemetery Columbarium.

Erika was born in Berlin, Germany on April 6, 1931. She met Thomas Abbott in 1951 while Tom was in the U.S. Army stationed in Berlin. They later married and moved to Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska where the family resided for five years. In 1961 the family moved to Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia until 1965 when Tom died. Erika and her family then moved to Kane, Illinois, Tom’s hometown, where she met and later married Paul Crawford. They stayed in Kane until Paul’s retirement when they moved to Richmond, Minnesota. They owned and operated Crawford’s Fish Haven Resort for several years. After selling the resort, they resided in the Richmond, Chain of Lakes area until Paul’s death in 1996. Erika then moved to Park Garden Senior Living in Waite Park. She was a resident volunteer putting a smile on many faces.

Erika had a strong Christian faith, belief in God, and spent many hours reading the bible. She always enjoyed helping others; perfecting many crafts, puzzling, fishing, traveling, and spending time with her family. Erika especially liked spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Erika is survived by her children, Susan (Stuart) Recknagel of St. George, UT, Tina (John) Herring of St. Joseph, Lonnie (Jill) Abbott of St. Joseph, Eric (Tara) Crawford of Sauk Rapids; grandchildren John (Amanda) Herring, Jr., Amy (Chris) Bergerson, Kaitlyn and Kallan Crawford; great-grandchildren Ebin and Adler Bergerson and Thomas and Samuel Herring, one sister, Waltraud.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Tom (1965) and Paul (1996), one sister, Margret, and four brothers, Heinz, Werner, Dieter, and Herbert.

The family would like to extend a special “Thank You” to the caring staff of Memory Lane at the Good Shepherd Community in Sauk Rapids for the wonderful care they gave their mother and grandmother.