ERICKSEN, WILBERT AND VIRGINIA R.
Wilbert Ericksen was born November 22, 1915 at the ranch home on the Middle Loup River in Cherry County, nine miles north of Hecla, NE. Their postoffice at that time was Erik, NE. His parents were Albert and Florence M. (Luke) Ericksen. After his father's death in 1934, he and his two brothers shouldered the responsibility of operating their ranch under the leadership of their Mother.
He entered the U.S. Army on October 15, 1941 and in 1943 he graduated from Officer's Training School. His overseas duty was in North Africa, Corsica, and Southern and Central Europe. He returned from the service in November of 1945 and was honorably discharged with rank of Captain on January 30, 1946.
On January 15, 1946, he was married at the Methodist Church at Curtis, NE. to Virginia Farrar, a daughter of Harold and Eva (Lim-back) Farrar of Maywood, NE, and they started their own operation with their share of the ranch using the “O-4'' brand on their cattle. In 1955 they sold their interest in the home ranch to his sister and her husband, Wilamene and H.J. Cox and purchased the Lowe Ranch north and east of Mullen with headquarters of Sec.7, T26, R.30. This was their family home until 1981 when they retired and moved into Mullen to the home which they had built for school purposes.
The Ericksens have been active in commu-nity affairs both rural and in Mullen. They have continued to practice the principals taught by the earlier generations of pride in their family, their cattle and ranch, and their community. Wilbert has been active as a 4-H leader, with the School Board, Co-Op Board, Natural Resources Board and the Nebraska Stockgrowers Assoc. Wilbert and Virginia are members of the United Methodist Church of Mullen; Wilbert is a Master Mason of Mullen Lodge #282 A.F.&A.M and Virginia is a Past Matron of Winifred Chapter #292 Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Nebraska Cattlewomen. On January 4, 1986, the couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
Their four children are Albert, Alice, Peggy and Melissa.
Albert H. was born 1946. He received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 1970. Shortly thereafter he entered the U.S. Army with overseas duty in Korea until 1972. On September 4, 1970, he was married to Maryl-in Kottas, also a University of Nebraska graduate, and the daughter of William J. and Helen Kottas of Tobias, NE. Upon Albert's return from the Army, his family moved to the ranch and he and his father operated the Wilbert Ericksen Co – a corporation in which Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Ericksen and all four of their children were shareholders. The corporation was later dissolved and since Wilbert's retirement, Albert and his family are leasing and operating the ranch. The Albert Ericksens have four children: Marc born 1971 ; Nicole born 1973; Carla born 1975; and Jill born 1978.
Alice M. was born 1948. She received a degree in Home Economics with special interest in Interior Designing from the University of Nebraska. On September 11, 1976, at the United Methodist Church in Mullen, she married Alfred Faraco of Fort Lauderdale and they have continued to make their home in Florida where she has a design studio. They have a son, Jonathan born
1980 and a daughter, Juliana born 1982.
Peggy K. was born 1951. She attended Chadron State College two years until her marriage to Jim Bradley, son of Orville and Faye Bradley of Mullen. Shortly after their daughter, Sybil's birth on
1972, her husband died. In the fall of 1973 she entered the Lincoln School of Commerce and later served as a teller in a bank at Beatrice, NE. She is now the wife of F. Lawrence Tegtmeier, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Tegtmeier of rural Hanover, KS. Their marriage was February 28, 1976 at Beatrice, NE. They operate a farm which they own. They have four children – Sybil and a son, Scott born 1977, a daughter, Ginell born 1979 and a daughter, Megan born 1984.
Melissa L. was born 1961. She graduated from Kearney State College in 1984. She taught in the Lewellen High School one year and was married on May 31, 1985 at the Methodist Church in Mullen to James Armstrong who farms with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Armstrong near Chappell, NE.