Journal
Another step was made in saying goodbye to Lester. September twenty third was a date that worked out for our family to meet at Henrytown Lutheran Church, the home church of our Erickson family. This is where we, Lester and Cheryl, were married 55 years ago.
Harris Hostager presided at the graveside services. Harris was our pastor in Belmond,IA and he baptized our daughter Caryn in 1970.It was meaningful for us to have such a long time friend doing this. We shared memories of Lester, we heard Scriptures read, Alyssa’s husband Eric placed the cremains alongside of those of our infant Lara, B/D September 27,1966, we prayed the Lord’s prayer and scattered dust to dust ashes to ashes and Harris blessed us with the benediction.
My father James Erickson, enjoyed a bit of carpentry and woodworking after he retired from his work as a farmer and we used one of his boxes as a container for Lester’s ashes. I am sure he never knew what that box would be used for but he made two of them and someday my ashes will join those Lester’s and Lara’s remains at Henrytown.
Our daughter Emily brought a gorgeous arrangement of a dozen red roses (for Lester) along with baby’s breath (for baby Lara.)
We are fortunate that my brother Greg Erickson still lives on his Erickson farm so close to Henrytown and he stops at the cemetery often to water the flowers and visit our Erickson/Mahaffay families there.
As after the graveside service was finished we drove to nearby Harmony and enjoyed food and fellowship there before we headed off to Decorah, Cedar Rapids, Minneapolis, Monona & West Salem.
We are confident we will meet again in Heaven, Lara and Lester Mahaffay.
Blessed be your memories.
”They whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before. They are now where ever we are.”*
*St John Chrystostom (349-407), Bishop of
Constantinople, was called “golden mouth”
(chrysostom) because of his eloquent speaking.
Thank you, Tom Martin Erickson
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