ALTA ERICKSON, 99, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Friday evening, January 15, 2010 in the Country Side Estates in Cherokee.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 19th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Pastor Jim Steen and Dr. Delmar Carlson will officiate and burial will be in the Liberty Township Cemetery at rural Meriden, Iowa. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Tuesday. Visitation will be on Monday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Alta was born on September 12, 1910 at Tripp, South Dakota to Melvin & Addie Mae (Shearer) Watson. She was the youngest of eleven children. She attended Country School in South Dakota. Her family moved to Iowa in 1932. She was married to Edward Erickson on March 7, 1942 at Sioux City, Iowa. She and her husband lived on a farm in Liberty Township for many years until moving to Cherokee in 1965. She resided in Country Side Estates Assisted Living from May of 2004 until August of 2007 when she moved into the nursing home side of Country Side Estates. Alta was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ladies Aide and the Cherokee County Farm Bureau. She volunteered her time in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church office and in the Synod Office in Storm Lake. She enjoyed growing flowers in her garden, spending time with her grandchildren and working within the church.

She was preceded in death by her husband on October 8, 1977, seven brothers and three sisters.

She is survived by her daughter: Germayne and her husband Orville "Dick" Johnson of Sutherland, Iowa; three grandchildren: Dean (Barb) Johnson of Merrill, Iowa; Dale Johnson of Meriden, Iowa; Darla (Mike) Negus of Sutherland, Iowa; five great grandchildren: Nick (Sandra) Johnson, Pat (Brenda) Johnson, Mike Johnson, Trista Regennitter and Jamie Negus; three great great grandchildren: Anthony, Mark and Delaine; several nieces and nephews including Lucille Kledis of Cherokee, Iowa and Gladys Johnson of Alta, Iowa.