ESTHER L. ERICKSON, 90, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Sunday morning, October 5, 2014 in the Careage Hills.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 10th, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Church of Christ in Cherokee. Pastor Tom Lewis will officiate. Private family burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee at a later date. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Friday. Visitation will be on Thursday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Esther was born on April 9, 1924 at Blake, Nebraska to Benjamin & Ellen Alverda (Craun) Maves. She attended Blake Elementary School and graduated from Burwell High School in 1941. She was married to Wallace E. Erickson on June 24, 1941 at Burwell, Nebraska. She had worked at the armament factory in Nebraska during WW II. She had also worked at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute, Randall's Food Store, Kmart, and was an Avon Sales Consultant. She was a member of the First Church of Christ in Cherokee. Esther enjoyed reading, bible study, and spending time with her family. She was a mentor and spiritual leader to many women in the Cherokee area.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Wally in 1986; two sons Daryl in1956 and Larry Erickson in 2006; two brothers Paul & Philip Maves; two sisters Naomi Maves and Lois Blake.

She is survived by her children: Kenneth Erickson of Rapid City, South Dakota; Martin (Diane) Erickson of Meriden, Iowa; Charles (Debra) Erickson of Cherokee, Iowa; Richard (Tonia) Erickson of Panora, Iowa; Marcia (Kirk) Nelson of Aurelia, Iowa; Leah (Scott) Smith of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; a sister Ruth (Jerry) Polak of Council Bluffs, Iowa; a sister-in-law Elberta Erickson of Spirit Lake, Iowa.