Lynda Marie "Versluys" Erikson

Lynda Marie (Versluys) Erikson gained final victory over cancer on September 14, 2016 passing peacefully at home into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior. She was 65 years of age. Born Nov. 1, 1950 in Rock Island, IL, to Marvin and Cecilia (Rind) Versluys, she spent her childhood and aquired her early education through high school in several Illinois Quad City locations, graduating from United Township High School in 1969. She then earned an associate degree in nursing (RN) from Blackhawk Community College. She met her soul mate and husband, Nils Erikson, while working through nursing school. Married June 2, 1973, in Iowa City, Iowa, Lynda supported her husband through medical school, surrendering her nursing career to raise their children and serve the country and family in the most difficult job in the US Navy, Navy wife. For the duration of her husband's career as a Naval Medical Officer, she accompanied him on duty assignments to all three coasts and Naval Base Great Lakes. Her family took a break from the frequent moves of Naval service in the early 1990’s, to reside in Sioux City, Iowa, where her children made life long friends attending school and establishing Sioux City as ‘home’ for them. With her husband’s recall to active duty, they completed nearly 30 years of Naval service, the couple retiring in 2012 in Longview, Texas. Of their many years of Navy service, 12 years were spent in assignments in Pensacola, Florida, with numerous important family events taking place in this ‘home’ to Lynda and Nils. A loving mother and wife, she was a proud patriot throughout her life and final battle with cancer. Lynda enjoyed keeping an encyclopedic memory bank of events and vital statistics of immediate and distant family, friends, and numerous pets. Her tender heart for animals challenged her habit of meticulous housekeeping with a final rescued menagerie of 16 cats and two dogs in place of her grown children at home. In addition, she enjoyed expanding her vocabulary with daily word study. This bolstered her enjoyment of word games with her family and allowed her to artfully describe her observations off political antics she followed closely on talk radio. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Nils Erikson, sons Garth and Tristan, daughter Blythe, and brothers Ray and Marvin. A memorial service will be held 10 AM, September 24 at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas, with interment at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida subsequently. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or the American Cancer Society.

Lynda Marie "Versluys" Erikson

November 1, 1950 - September 14, 2016