Elma Lee Bearley Erickson was the sixth of the seven children of Albert Robert “Bob” and Mary Magley Bearley. A brother, Elmer Leroy, died of pneumonia in March before Elma Lee was born October 11, 1927. The parents named her in his memory.
She was raised in a loving home and enjoyed many family activities—also Erickson activities later. When her sister Emma was in second grade, Mother was called to Eastern Kansas to be with her terminally ill sister. It was then that Miss Imogene Howland allowed Elma to attend class with Emma, and it was also then that Elma decided she wanted to be a teacher, too.
After graduation from Atwood Community High School in 1945, Elma attended summer school at Fort Hays to get the required hours to teach. Her teaching career spanned 40 years—five in rural schools in Rawlins County, five in Oberlin Consolidated School and the remainder at Atwood Grade School where she taught first grade.
In 1980 Elma and Algoth “Al” Erickson were married. They helped in Atwood with Elma’s dad until his death in 1986. They also enjoyed traveling and life on Al’s farm.
Elma was a member of the Atwood United Methodist Church but also attended Al’s church, Herndon Covenant. She was a dual member of Easter Star (Atwood and Oberlin), Delta Kappa Gamma, Honorary Teachers Society, Hello There Hobby Club, and Union Club. She served as a Past Matron for the Atwood Eastern Star.
Besides ones listed and her beloved Al, Elma was predeceased by her mother in 1975; brothers, Willie, Alon and Jack; sister, Marie Watkins; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and nephews.
Loved ones left behind include sister, Emma Threlkel, 30 nephews and nieces and their families; and many cherished friends.
Funeral Service: Monday, July 10th at 10:30 a.m. at the Atwood United Methodist Church with Rev. Keith Reuther officiating
Burial: Fairview Cemetery in Atwood
Memorial Fund: Hospice of Northwest Kansas
Visitation: Sunday from 1:00-8:00 p.m. at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin and Monday after 8:00 a.m. at the church in Atwood