ERICKSEN, WILBERT AND VIRGINIA R.

by Wilbert and Virginia Ericksen

Entry F127 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Wilbert Ericksen, 1979. Back Row L to R Peggy, Melissa, Alice.
Front - Albert, Virginia, Wilbert.

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.