Ronald Erickson, age 81, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, January 27, 2014.

He was born April 30, 1932, in Rockford, Illinois, to Ellis and Esther (Pearson) Erickson, growing up in the Rockford area.  He worked many years as an iron worker, a member of Local 498, in Rockford, and later in Bellingham, with Local 505.  Ronald married his “child bride,” Carol Demus, on August 17, 1952, in Rockford.  He served with the United States Marine Corps. Reserves, until being activated for the Korean War.  He was one of the “Chosen Few,” serving throughout the war.  As a proud Marine, he was one of the Charter Members of the Marine Corp. League, in Sedro-Woolley, being active with the “Toys for Tots Program.”  Moving to Sedro-Woolley, Washington in 1979, when he quit working with iron, he began a new career as a realtor, with Century 21 Valley Homes.  After retiring, he and Carol spent much time traveling in the RV, attending different Marine reunions, especially those of the “Chosen Few.”  Family was always most important to Ronald.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters, Sherrie and her husband, Fred Thompson, and Rhonda Rader and her fiancé, Eben Twaddle, all of Sedro-Woolley; grandchildren, Cody and his wife, Anna Anderson, Kristin and her husband, Roger Nederhood, Rachel Rader and her fiancé, Jerry Forbes, and Garrett Rader; great granddaughters, Sophie and Nicole Nederhood; brothers, Rudolph and his wife, Donna Erickson, of Rockford, IL, and Roger and his wife, Deborah Erickson, of Rockford, IL; brothers in law, Bill Demus and Pros Whippler, both of Harlingen, TX; sister in law, Gloria and her husband, Wayne Johnson, of Sarasota, FL; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ronald was preceded in death by his sons, Ronald Ellis, Jr. and Michael Kevin Erickson.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Mathey and the nurses at North Puget Cancer Care, for their loving care and attention to Ronald.

A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 1, 2014, at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley, with Pastor Rachel Wangen-Hoch presiding.  There will be a pot-luck reception after the service at the American Legion Hall, upstairs, where the Marine Corps. League meets.