Gene Morland Erlandson, 92, of Mentor, Minnesota was born to Arthur and Hilda (Skanson) Erlandson on August 10, 1929, in St. Paul, Minnesota. While still a small child the family moved back to their farm in Woodside Township. During WWII they moved to Portland, Oregon where his father worked in a shipyard. Gene’s elementary education was in a country school near their home in Minnesota and in Portland. After returning to their farm two years later, Gene attended Mentor High School, graduating as a salutatorian of his class in 1948.
Gene enlisted in the US Air Force, receiving his basic training at the Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He was stationed at various places in the US and spent a year in England. He served as a medic and was introduced to electronics, which later became an enjoyable way to spend his free time. One project at the time was building an organ from a kit.
Following his time in the service, Gene enrolled at Augsburg College in Minneapolis and attained a degree in laboratory science. His life’s work resulted in 30 years of employment at Hennepin County General Hospital as a lab technician.
When vacation time came in the summer, Gene would join his brother Marvin and family and travel to various sites in the western states and Canada, visiting national parks and other places of interest. The trips were usually made in Marvin’s pick-up, with a mattress in the box for Gene and the nieces who all rode in the back. They spoke of great fun doing this.
When Gene retired in 1989, he left Minneapolis and moved back to the family farm until buying a home on Maple Lake a few years later, where he spent the rest of his life. Here he further developed his interest in electronics, bought a computer, and taught himself how to use it, tweaking it to serve his purpose. He was never fazed by a tangle of cords and wires. He spent time learning what was going on in the world.
Gene was a self-proclaimed news junkie, a voracious reader, and had much knowledge in history, science, religion, politics, and more. Time Magazine, Discover, Wired, other magazines, and the newspaper always came to his mailbox.
His love of classical and organ music was another facet of his life, evidenced by his large collection of CDs.
When Gene became acquainted with Anne Pederson, organist at Maple Lake Church, their common interest in music led to attending any organ or other music concerts of interest together for many years, including the sixteen winters they spent in Mesa, Arizona.
In failing health for the last two years, Gene died peacefully of the effects of Covid and congestive heart failure at Riverview Health in Crookston the evening of October 12.
He is survived by his nieces and nephew, Lesa (David) Hanna, their family, Andrew, Sarah, Mari, and Rachel of Hawley, MN, Laurie Fredrickson (fiancé Bruce), her children, Joshua and Lindsey of Elk River, MN, and Mark (Cayla) Erlandson, and their children, Norah and Graham of Maple Grove, MN; and longtime companion, Anne Pederson.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Arthur and Hilda; and brother, Marvin Erlandson.
Memorial Service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 23, 2021, at Maple Lake Lutheran Church, Rural Fertile, MN. Due to COVID 19 concerns please wear a mask when attending the visitation and memorial service.
Visitation: One hour before the memorial service at the church.
Inurnment with full military rites: Maple Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Fertile, MN
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home
