Obituary for Mary U. Erlandson

Mary U. Erlandson, 90, of Marion, formerly of Cokato, MN, died Oct. 4 at Winslow House Care Center, Marion, after a long illness. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 AM, Oct. 23, at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion with Pastors Dennis Johnson and Kevin Jones officiating. Mary was born Feb. 16, 1920, in Warren, MN, to Selmer A. Ulland and Nora Bakke Ulland. She grew up primarily in Minneapolis, MN, attended school there, and graduated from West High School. She attended St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, and then the Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, where she met her future husband, M. Julian Erlandson. They were married at the chapel in Camp Le Juene, NC, May 16, 1944. Shortly after returning from his WW II Marine Corps service, they settled in Cokato, MN. In addition to raising her family there, she was very active in service to others through her church and several civic organizations. She moved to the Cedar Rapids - Marion, IA area in 1996. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Survivors include 4 children and their spouses: Robert (Linda) Erlandson, of Marion; John (Kay) Erlandson, of Flower Mound, TX; Karen (Mel Clarke), of Redondo Beach, CA; and Carl (Linda) Erlandson, of Jacksonville, NC. Mary''s grandchildren and spouses are Kirsten (Brian Bich), Duluth, MN; Karn (Kris Spence), Portage, MI; Anne (Randy Brown), Johnston, IA; Sarah Erlandson, Euless, TX; Capt. Adam (Tara) Erlandson, Enid, OK; Capt. Emily Erlandson, Savannah, GA; 2nd Lt. Andrew Erlandson, Omaha, NE; Erik Erlandson, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. Mary''s great-grandchildren are Nathan and Connor Bich, Helen Spence, and Kieran and Ian Brown.