ERICKSEN, ERIK AND MABELL (OSENBAUGH)

Erik Phillip Ericksen the fourth child of Albert F. and Florence M. (Luke) Ericksen was born January 5, 1920 at Mullen Nebras-ka. He grew up on the family ranch in south Cherry County and attended most of his elementary school years at Mullen. He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis, Nebraska where he was an outstanding member of their boxing team.

He returned to the family ranch and helped his mother and two brothers, his father having died in 1934. When World War II began both Wilbert and Paul joined the Armed Forces leaving Erik at home with his mother to run the ranch.

Erik married Mabell D. Osenbaugh, De-cember 3, 1944 at O'Neill, Nebraska. She was the daughter of John and Cecil (Humphrey) Osenbaugh of O'Neill, Nebraska. Mabell was born July 18, 1922 at Auburn, Nebraska and moved with her parents and one sister, Ruth, and brother John, to O'Neill in 1928. She attended the O'Neill Public School and graduated in 1940. She taught one year in a Holt county rural school and then attended the University of Nebraska.

Mabell came to Mullen in 1943 to teach school and as so often happens, has remained and made it her home. After she and Erik were married they made their home with Florence on the home place. They later moved to a small house on the south part of the ranch.

They had two children, Suzanne E. born

1957 and Erik P. Jr. born 1948. They were both born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Alliance, Nebraska.

After being ill for several years with Multiple Sclerosis Erik died on March 5, 1954 and was buried in Cedarview Cemetery by his father.

Mabell continued to run the ranch but she and the children moved into Mullen where she resumed her teaching career.