ERICKSEN, ALBERT H. AND MARYLIN R. (KOTTAS)

by Marylin Ericksen

Entry F125 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Albert Ericksen Family. Back Row: Carla, Nicole,
Marc. Front Row: Albert Marlyn, and Jill

Albert H. Ericksen was born on
1946, in Alliance, NE. to Wilbert and
Virginia (Farrar) Ericksen. From birth to 10
years of age Albert lived on his paternal
grandparent's ranch, Albert and Florence
(Luke) Ericksen north of Mullen NE in
Cherry County. In 1955, the family pur-
chased the Elloitt Lowe ranch 18 mi. north
of Seneca NE and moved in the spring of
1956.

Albert attended country school at District
#119 in Cherry County until seventh grade
and then the family moved to Mullen for the
rest of the school years. He and his three
sisters, Alice Marie (Ericksen) Faraco, Peggy
Kathleen (Ericksen) Tegtmeier, and Melissa
Louise (Ericksen) Armstrong as well as his
father are all graduates of Mullen High
School. After graduating from high school in
the spring of 1965, Albert attended Kearney
State College in the fall. He later transferred
to the University of Nebraska and graduated
in January, 1970, with a degree in Business
Administration.

On September 4, 1970, Albert married
Marylin Rose Kottas in St. Joseph's Catholic
Church at Tobias, NE. Marylin was born on
1948 at Friend, NE. to William
James and Helen Rose (Stejskal) Kottas. She
graduated from Tobias High School in 1966
and received a BS degree in Business Educa-
tion from the University of Nebraska, Lin-
coln, in June, 1970.

Albert entered the United States Army in
the spring of 1970. He received his basic
training at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and AIT
training at Ft. Ord, CA. In the fall of 1970,
Albert and Marylin made their home in
Oakland, CA. while Albert was stationed at
Presidio. Marylin taught in the Oakland
Public Schools at that time. In August, 1971,
Albert went for a tour of duty to Korea with
the 2nd Infantry Division and was stationed
on the DMZ between North and South Korea
during the Viet Nam War. Their first child,
Marc Anthony, was born on
1971, at Friend, NE. while Albert was
overseas. Upon returning to the States in
May, 1972, Marylin and Albert lived in
Lincoln, NE. In September, 1972, they
moved to Mullen where Albert helped his
father with ranching. In February, 1973, they
moved to the ranch north of Seneca. In 1981,
Albert assumed the managerial duties of the
ranch and currently owns part and leases the
remainder of the ranch.

Three daughters joined the family. Nicole
Christine was born on 1973; Carla
Jane was born on 1975; and Jill
Renee was born on 1978. They
were all born at Pioneer Memorial Hospital
in Mullen, NE.

Marylin and Albert are active in civic
affairs and St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Marylin is the church organist and currently
holds an office on the Gr. Island Diocesean
Council of Catholic Women. She is a member
of the Am. Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 and a
substitute teacher and bus driver for the
Mullen Public Schools. Both Marylin and
Albert are 4-H club leaders and helped
organize the Millen Jaycees in 1973 of which
both were president of Jaycees and Mrs.
Jaycees. During its existence many projects
were realized, namely park playground
equipment, bicentennial cookbook, Junior
Miss Pageants, and demolition derbies. Al-
bert is presently the president of the Mullen
School Board, secretary of the Area 10
Stockgrowers, and member of the Am. Legion
Post 109.

Marc, Nicole, Carla, and Jill are active in
4-H, music, sports, and other school and
church activities. They attend Mullen Public
School. The family enjoys fishing and has
traveled through states to Chicago and
Florida visiting friends and relatives.

In September, 1986, Albert and Marylin
purchased the Pearl Harding home on South
First Street in Mullen. The residence is being
used during the school year.