It is with great sadness that the family of Jim Erickson announces his passing on May 10, 2022. Jim was an industrious, self-made man for whom no problem was too large, as he could learn and do anything he set his mind to. He spent his life working with his hands, building and creating. However, Jim preferred to do most activities next to his wife Mary Jo, as they "were a team" and together, they worked hard to build an enjoyable life they shared with friends and family.

James Willard Erickson, 71, was born on April 28, 1951 in Fertile, MN. After graduating from Fertile High School in 1969, he enlisted in the Navy and served four years in the Viet Nam War. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned home and attended welding school while working at his father's John Deere dealership "Willard Erickson Implement", as a mechanic.

Jim soon met Mary Jo from Beltrami, MN and they married in 1976. Together, they moved to Dubois, Idaho where Jim continued to work as a mechanic at a local John Deere dealership. Within a few years, the couple moved near Ashton, Idaho where Jim started a logging business: "Jim Erickson Firewood", an operation which involved harvesting logs that were cut on his sawmill, and delivered as firewood.

Here he hand-crafted his families log home, where the couple had two children, Ericca (1981) and Andrew (1983). Each summer the house and surrounding buildings were oiled by himself and his wife who balanced atop his hand made front end loader to reach the tallest peaks. Jim was talented craftsman and finished the majority of the interior of his house himself, from the plumbing, electrical and sheetrock to fine details of his recently finished oak cabinets.

After the logging industry was no longer lucrative in Idaho, Jim switched gears and built his new business "Jim Erickson Excavation and Construction", which included snow removal during the winter months using another hand-built machine; an industrial loader-mounted snow blower.

A hard worker his entire life, Jim continued to stay busy through retirement, always helping and working on projects for friends and family. He never wavered in his dedication to John Deere, and spent his pastime restoring three antique John Deere tractors: a Model B, AR and 630.

Jim loved to travel the west with his RV alongside his wife and Golden Retriever, many trips stretching anywhere from Alaska to Texas. Much of the local scenery was admired with Jo behind the wheel of his Polaris ATV. Jim enjoyed conversations with everyone, and met many people on his RV travels, including newfound friends during semi-annual land sailing trips. Frequent drives to Boise were also made to visit his grandson, Ridge. After a trip to central Nevada, he quietly dreamed of spending part of his retirement restoring narrow-gauge steam locomotives.

Jim later became known as an excellent craft beer brewer. Like each project he worked on, he brewed each batch with meticulous detail, from growing the hops to building his home-brew system. Many beers were shared with friends, next to his wood fired, washing machine drum pizza oven. He also helped his wife in the garden by building covered raised garden beds, including a sprinkler system.

Just recently, Jim was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died peacefully a few days after surgery. He is survived by his wife Mary Jo; his daughter Ericca Erickson (Kendall) of North Plains, OR; his son Andrew Erickson (Andrea) of Meridian, ID; his grandson Ridge; his siblings Julie Bak (Jim) of Fertile, MN and John Erickson (Diane) of Crookston, MN; and the countless friends Jim has helped throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents Willard and Doris Erickson.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held later this summer for close friends and family.