Minneapolis 1961 getting ready

1961 March 7, Minneapolis

Letter written by Ina Erickson from Minneapolis to Durward and Estelle Titus Box 224 Route1, Carlos MN USA 

Dear mom and dad,

Thank you so much for the wonderful weekend. It was so good to be able to see so many of the old friends again. We are still enjoying some of the baking. Our trip back was pretty good until we got close to Minneapolis. About 30 miles out we ran into snow. It really was coming down. Then in the city traffic it was kind of bound up as people couldn’t get up hills and when you would stop at a stop light it was hard to get going again. It took us an hour and a half to get from Fairview to here.

Alec had decided that we had given up and weren’t coming. He had gotten a telegram saying a friend in Milwaukee had passed away. So he was trying to make arrangements to get to that funeral. He was glad to see us as we could then take him down to the train. It was snowing so badly when they left, they could hardly see. Paula enjoyed getting back took her house. The first thing after she had awakened, and came down the stairs, she had to make a trip up again. She did a backwards somersault down from the landing. She didn’t get hurt as she didn’t shed a tear.  Since Alec is gone I’m planning on working today and tomorrow if the registry has something for me. Last night Al and I attended a class at the seminary for those who are going out as missionaries. Learning how these people think and the importance of learning the language. Finding out what some of the problems will be etc.. Al will be getting credits for it.

I guess Jenny walks all around the house now. Cautiously, but she does walk. Last night Paula was trying to stand by herself. She will pull herself up and then let go, naturally she would plunk down again but she surely was trying. Oh dear, Paula is working on the stairs again. I must get my house cleaned and the ironing done before I go to work. This morning Paula was mimicking me when I ask her where daddy was. She didn’t get the ‘Dhere’s” to plain but the daddy came out pretty good. Enough bragging. We love you and pray God’s blessings and guidance. Give our best to Mrs. Hintzen and help her to keep those limbs moving, trying a little more each day. Get her to get her arm over her head as high and as often as possible. Combing her own hair is real good exercise.

Love Al Ina, and Paula.

1961 May 3 Schedule for summer of 1961
Letter written by Alvin Erickson from Minneapolis  to Alvin and Louise Erickson, Box 1327, Glendive Montana, USA

Dear mom and dad,

The path of academic work is running out. It seems to be moving out of school for good. Here is a look at our schedule. Saturday, May 20 last test.
Sunday, May 21, I will preach at Stevens Point.
Thursday through Saturday May 23-27 I will come back to Minneapolis and pack. Sunday 3 PM May 28 is graduation.
After graduation leave for Montana.
May 29 to June 9 will stay in Montana.
Sunday, June 4 is ordination at Glendive.
Saturday, June 10, we have to be back at Carlos Minnesota to attend Ina‘s sister’s wedding. (Ina’s sister Beryl)
Tuesday, June 13- I start school at Grand Forks North Dakota. June 13 through August 25 or 26th -a Friday -language training.
End of August be back to Montana.

September 5 leave from San Francisco after spending a few days with Betty (Al’s sister). Will be going by train from Glendive to San Francisco and there are good connections.

We would surely like to have any of you come down to Minneapolis when you can. Maybe see a ball game. I am enclosing a schedule. Will you show it to Helen and Charlie. Maybe you can all come. We have room because we can use the porch.

Thank you for your letters. We got the package you sent. The pictures weren’t too good but not much of a subject to work with.

We hope you can come down. Keep looking onto him from whom has come our reconciliation with the father. Let us live in the salvation he has given us.

Love, Al, Ina and Paula

Alvin and Louise family gathered for Alvin Jr’s Ordination in Glendive, MT June 4, 1961. Alvin Jr Erickson, who grew up in Glendive is to the left of Ina holding Paula.

Alvin and Louise family gathered for Alvin Jr’s Ordination in Glendive, MT June 4, 1961. Ina holding Paula

Alvin and Louise Family gathered for Alvin Jr’s Ordination in Glendive, MT June 4. Background is the iconic Alvin and Louise house in Glendive MT. Hosted many extended family members traveling through Montana.

Below are pictures and information related to the home where Al and Ina lived in Minneapolis in 1960-61 while Alvin finished at the St Paul, MN Theological Seminary.

4025 Queen Ave South, Minneapolis. Alvin, Ina and Paula lived here in 1960- through May of 1961. Then moved to Alexandria MN for the summer before going to New Guinea.

4025 Queen Ave South, Minnepolis. Winter of 2021. The brick steps are gone.

Ina Erickson and Paula Erickson Winter of 1961

4025 Queen Ave South Minneapolis

Spring 1961. This house overlooks the Lake Harriet bandshell.

Alvin and Ina lived in Minneapolis late 1960-May 1961 with Mr Alexander. They lived with him in for free in exchange for helping him out. His son had made the arrangements. Alvin Erickson worked at a Pizza place in Linden Hills until December when he developed Mononucleosis and had to stop. He continued his seminary training at Martin Luther Seminary and got there mostly on 26th and 28th streets which were one ways streets at the time and still are. No freeways then. Ina worked at Fairview as a nurse. Inez Voight babysat Paula. Inez Voight was Ina’s aunt (her mom’s sister).

Below is a census record from 1940 of the Alexander family living in the house that Al, Ina and Paula stayed. 4025 Queen Ave, Minneapolis.  Alvin could not remember the address but Paula found the census record.

They knew him as Mr Alexander. His first name was Archibald. He passed away on 9 Nov 1963 at the age of 85.

Archibald Alexander Jr, ( the son of Mr Alexander) had quite a life and career.

Here is his Obituary:

Archibald Ferguson Alexander died at his home on September 16, 2005 of lung cancer. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 13, 1928 to Archibald and Jean Alexander. He grew up in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota where he graduated as the very first graduate of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in 1951. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Veterinary Corps at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah from 1951-1956, attaining the rank of Captain. In September 1953, he married Susan Hart in Minneapolis. Arch and Susan moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1956 where he accepted a position as an instructor at the veterinary school at Colorado A&M, now Colorado State University. He completed a doctoral degree in pathology in 1962 and remained on the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine at CSU. In 1966 he was appointed Chair of the Department of Pathology; a post he held till 1980. Subsequently he was the Director of the Diagnostic Laboratory. In addition to teaching, Arch had broad interests in veterinary medicine and participated in many programs to improve veterinary medicine and animal health in less developed countries, including Kenya, Chile, Mexico, and Ethiopia. In 1972 he received a distinguished alumni award from the University of Minnesota in recognition for his accomplishments. Arch and Susan had four children, and they spent their lives in Fort Collins, except for a year on sabbatical in Scotland. They enjoyed a range of activities, including skiing, tennis, horseback riding, fishing, hunting and canoeing. Arch's interests included trains and model railroading, music, particularly opera, singing in the Larimer Chorale, history, wood working, fishing, hunting and shooting sports. He was an excellent craftsman who enjoyed developing new skills and designing, making or fixing anything: cars, tools, furniture, and even ornamental lamps from scrap metal. The family enjoyed many summer trips to the Snowy Range in Wyoming, and Madeline Island in Lake Superior. Arch and Susan bought an older farm house in 1966 and kept a menagerie of horses, chickens, ducks, dogs and cats that kept them and the children quite occupied. Susan preceded him in death in 1999. Her struggle with Alzheimer's Disease, diagnosed in the early 1980s, had profound and lasting effects on his emotional and physical health. Arch retired from CSU in 1987 in order to attend to her. He is survived by his four children and their spouses and children; Ian Alexander (Janet Meredith, Jack and Robin) of Denver Bruce Alexander (Carie, Ellen, Graeme and Susan) of Minneapolis, Jean Alexander-Gitchell (John, Hayden and Colin) of Eagle CO, Ruth Calkins (Craig, Jason and Jessie) of Glen Rose Texas,. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Ellen Bleifuss of Minneapolis and her four sons Joel, Alistair, Christopher, and Ethan and their families. The family wishes to thank all of Arch's friends and colleagues for the support he received in the last years of his life and during his more recent illness. A memorial service will be held on October 7th at 2 PM at Foothills Unitarian Church in Fort Collins, followed by a celebration of his life at the family home 922 South Summit View Drive.Memorial contributions can be made in Dr. Alexander's memory to the CSU Foundation to award a graduate student scholarship in Patho-biology or to Hospice of Larimer County in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 650 W. Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526.