Orva Clara Erickson, 81, of Redfield, SD died Monday, August 11, 2008 at her granddaughter's home in Laurel, MT. Her funeral will be Friday, August 15, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Redfield. Reverend Brian Wasmoen will officiate. Burial will be in Whitestone Hill Cemetery near Gwinner, ND at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield, SD. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Orva was born January 14, 1927 to Paul Emil and Martha Antonette (Willprecht) Tesch in Lidgerwood, ND. She attended country school and grew up in the Lidgerwood area. Orva married Carl Ernest Erickson on November 1, 1950 at the Lutheran parsonage in Milnor, ND. Orva and Carl were dairy farmers all their married life. They lived near Gwinner, ND until they moved to Tulare, SD in the fall of 1957. Orva helped with the dairy and wherever she was needed. They moved to one mile south of Redfield in 1981. They went back to the farm in 1986 until they sold the farm and retired in 1992.

She enjoyed gardening, flowers and crocheting.

Orva is survived by two grandchildren: Desari (Jim) Derby of Laurel, MT; and Dustin (Kathi) Erickson of Lead, SD; two great grandchildren: Kevan Derby and Megan Erickson and her sister Myrtle (Stan) Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl, her son Dale, five brothers: Clarence, Ewald, Edwin, Raymond and Roman, one sister Violet and one grandson Derek.