Paul Erickson

Paul Erickson of Grove, Oklahoma, passed away at home in his sleep on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. He was 70. Paul was born to Edwin and Marilyn (Gilvedt) Erickson on September 21, 1955 in Greenbush, Minnesota.

He was an excellent athlete, lettering 5 years in baseball and 4 in wrestling. In wrestling, he placed in the state finals and received offers for scholarships. After high school, he attended Christ for the Nations Bible school in Dallas, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Dawne Vernon, whom he remained married to for 47 years.

Paul was a stone mason in Grove, Oklahoma, also, for 47 years. He was active at G.C.C. church, an ordained minister, and taught Sunday school for 28 years. With Dawne, he followed her heart to the mission field in Honduras and Mexico, but Paul’s heart was to teach the Word to and disciple fatherless men, which he maintained until his sickness made it too difficult to continue.

He is survived by his wife, Dawne; his siblings, Reg Erickson and Becca Waslien; five children, Nicolas Erickson, Kyle Erickson, Adam Erickson, Molly Jones, and Drew Erickson; and thirteen grandchildren, Kylie, Justice, Breydon, Lydia, Liam, Isabel, Theodore, Cleopatra, Silas, Aden, Athan, Amen, and Aliyah.

The family will receive friends at Grove Christian Center at 11 a.m., Wednesday, December 3. In lieu of flowers, a money tree will be present to help with Dawne’s expenses.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ozark Memorial Park Crematory of Joplin, Mo.