Marion Ruth Erlandson

Marion Ruth Anderson Erlandson was promoted to her Heavenly Eternal Home on April 25, 2023. After her 98th birthday, she longed for Heaven more than ever, where she would see clearly again, as well as see her Savior face to face! Marion was born on Dec. 7, 1924, in Duluth MN to Lawrence & Lillian Anderson. Her father died when Marion was 3 years old, and her mother remained a single mom, working hard to raise the 4 children. As a young child Marion trusted in Jesus as her Savior. When she was 10 years old, she responded to the challenge to be baptized as a testimony of her relationship with God through Jesus. After graduating from high school, she joined the war effort as a “Rosie the Riveter”. When her fiancée, Ed, was on leave between tours of duty with the Army Air Corp, they married on Jan. 2, 1945. At the end of 1948, Marion and Ed headed to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. This was a “Heaven on Earth” experience for Marion. In 1951 Ed and Marion answered the call to pastor Acme Bible Church near Traverse City, MI, where she served as Pastor’s wife, mom of 4, hostess, Bible teacher for women and children in many settings, friend to many, and eventually co-owned and managed a Christian Book Store with Ed. Marion’s hobbies were her family and ministry, but she learned plenty of life skills – gardening, canning, cooking, baking, sewing, and most of all memorizing scripture, praying, singing hymns and loving others well! As the family nest emptied, she had time to add hobbies – wood carving and needle felting! These were delightful pastimes and provided treasured keepsakes for many! After 25 years in the Traverse City area and another 25 in Florida, Marion and Ed headed back to MI to join Shirley in Iron Mountain. Marion started a carving club at the Iron Mountain Senior Center as an extension of the Woodbee Carvers Club. She became involved at Immanuel Baptist/Redemption Hill Church teaching ladies Bible studies, serving in children’s ministry, as church librarian and faithful prayer warrior. Together, Marion, Ed and Shirley traveled all over the U. P. of Michigan to visit many scenic sites, especially waterfalls, and to other locations to visit family and friends. Ed, Marion’s beloved husband of 65 years, promoted to Heaven on Jan. 26, 2010, at the age of 86. Marion and Shirley continued traveling in several cross country trips in The Hallelujah Hornet (their little motorhome). Marion’s life faithfully focused on walking by faith, keeping her eyes on God and doing the work He gave her to do, but soon, as glaucoma took her vision, it would also be “not by sight”. 2 Cor. 5:7 was coming true: “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” To quote Marion: “As I look back what impresses me the most is God’s gracious provision and protection over me all my life. It is all by His grace, I have good memories and I praise the Lord that He showed me the way to be His child. I have had God as the only Father I have ever known. It is my heart’s desire that all my family and friends know God in this same way – to know His grace and love and to walk with Him.” Her surviving family going forward with this legacy include her children Eddie (Kate), Larry (Beth), Shirley, and Dan (Peg) and all their children, as well as the many spouses and their offspring, including great-great-grandchildren. Marion faithfully prayed for them the words of Colossians 1:9-14 “…asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom & spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him] bearing fruit in every good work & growing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, (no matter what happens) for all endurance & patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father…” A Celebration of God’s Goodness in Marion’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, at Redemption Hill Church, Kingsford, MI. Marion would be delighted to have you support Moody Bible Institute or Samaritan’s Purse in her honor. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Marion Ruth Erlandson

December 7, 1924 - April 25, 2023