Irene Erickson

Funeral services for Irene Erickson will be held at 10:30AM Thursday July 3rd at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea with Pastor Janet White officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday July 2nd from 4-7PM at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour prior to the funeral service at church. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Irene, age 91, died peacefully Monday morning at Thorne Crest Retirement Community in Albert Lea. She was born January 5, 1923 in Fraser Township in Martin County, MN, the daughter of Gustav and Rose (Behrens) Kutnink. She attended a country school in Fraser through 8th grade. Irene was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairmont and married Howard Erickson at Zion on June 26, 1954. They made their home in Albert Lea and became members of Grace Lutheran Church. She and Howard could often be found completing jigsaw puzzles in their free time. Irene stayed busy as a housekeeper for area families, a job from which she never really retired. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, baking, gardening, and socializing with neighbors over a cup of coffee. Irene is survived by her sons, Jeff (Cheri) Erickson of Albert Lea and Art Kutnink of Winneconne, Wis.; grandchildren, Chris (Dave) Kutnink Richards and children Theresa and Charlie of Oshkosh, Wis., Kevin Kutnink of Breckenridge, TX and his children Sidney and Lesley of Oshkosh, Wis., Andy (Tracy) Kutnink and children Dane and Norah of Winneconne, Wis.; siblings, Lavera Clays, Elmer (Judy) Kutnink, Mildred Werling, and Violet Lueth; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jeannie Kutnink, Joyce Olson, Lola Erickson; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Gustav and Rose Kutnink; husband, Howard Erickson; daughter-in-law, Dianne Kutnink; brothers, Victor Westendorf and Arlo Kutnink.