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- Bio: Curtis died from complications of pneumonia. He was preceded in death by his father, Casper; mother, Olga, and brother, Roger. He will be remembered fondly by his family including wife of 59 years, Delores; sons, Roger and Robert (Antoinette); daughters, Karen (Neal) St. Anthony and Kristin (Tony) Lail; 8 grandchildren, relatives and friends, especially those in aviation. Curt grew up on a farm in rural Dawson, MN and was baptized and confirmed at Baxter Lutheran Church in rural Montevideo. After graduation from Dawson High School in 1945, he enlisted in the Navy. After completing basic training, Erickson was selected for aviation training. In 1946 he spent time at the Pensacola Naval air Station in Florida where he learned to operate and teach instrument flying with flight simulators and also taught Navy flyers in the celestial link trainers to navigate by the stars at several Naval Air Stations in Eastern US and Hawaii. In 1949 Curt married Delores Falness in Dawson and resided in Minneapolis. He was assigned to the flight training unit at the MSP Naval Air Station which established one of the first jet flight simulators equipped with instrument training technology. Erickson was discharged from the Navy after serving 12 years. Erickson and partner Joel Ernsberger founded Instrument Flight Training (IFT) with the purchase of a World War II Link Trainer and Piper Pacer. IFT won a contract with fledgling North Central Airlines to train pilots and flight engineers. Over the years, he taught hundreds of general aviation pilots to fly by instruments. Van Dusen Air, Incorporated purchased IFT in in 1962 and hired Curt as their Chief Pilot. He was later promoted to President of the Air Associates Division. He was a certified pilot examiner for many years for private, commercial, multi-engine, sea plane and instrument check rides. They had an air taxi certificate and flew many politicians, business executives and celebrities, including the King of Norway. During Erickson's career at Van Dusen, he was active in many aviation organizations, including the Minnesota Air Trades Association MATA, National Air Trades Association (NATA) and the Quiet Birdmen (QB). Curt and Delores have lived in Savage for more than 50 years. They have been members of St. James Lutheran Church and he was a member of the Savage American Legion. Curt was an avid reader and historian who maintained connections with the farming community of his birth and his Norwegian heritage. He enjoyed woodworking, electronics, antiques and spending time with children and grandchildren. Erickson will be remembered as a dedicated aviation professional who was happiest sitting in the cockpit of an airplane. He was honored and humbled to be inducted in the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007.
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1928 - 2008 (80 år)
