ERICKSEN, ERIK AND MABELL (OSENBAUGH)

by Mabell (Ericksen) Cox

Entry F126 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Erik and Mabell (Osenbaugh) Ericksen wedding December 2, 1944.

Suzanne E. Ericksen - 1956.

Erik Ericksen, Jr. 1956.

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.