Arleth (Brask) Lexen Erickson of Grantsburg, WI, age 91, went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 26, 2017, with family and friends by her bedside.
She is survived by her four children, Janine (Karl) Kuckhahn of Merritt Island, FL, Arlu (Brian) Ames of Grantsburg, WI, Tim (Jane) Lexen of Cumberland, WI, Kyle (Kathy) Lexen of Frederic, WI; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Lucille Brask and Linnea Brask; and extended family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Esther Brask; infant daughter, Janet Lexen; siblings, Mavis (Joe) Kronberg, Harland Brask, Lorice (Irvin) Lepien, and Wade Brask; husband, Gesta Lexen; husband, Maurice Erickson; and great-granddaughter, Brynnley Post.
Arleth was born on April 4, 1926 to Carl and Esther Brask in Frederic, WI. She attended elementary school at the one-room Spirit Lake School. After graduating from Grantsburg High School, she enrolled at Bethel College in St. Paul, MN, for two years, and then continued her plan for becoming a nurse by completing three years at the Swedish Hospital program in Minneapolis, MN, followed by courses to become a Public Health Nurse at the University of Minnesota.
While practicing as a Public Health Nurse, Arleth attended a Bethel conference where she met Gesta Lexen. They were married at Trade Lake Baptist Church, Frederic, WI, in 1952. Arleth and Gesta took missionary training through the Baptist General Conference with the plan of being missionaries to Ethiopia. However, health issues prevented the realization of that. Her inability to pursue that dream was perhaps one of the few regrets she had. Arleth and Gesta moved to the Boston, MA, area for several years, had an infant daughter who passed away, and then celebrated the birth of their oldest daughter. After moving to Lewiston, ME, they had three more children. After Gesta passed away in 1963, Arleth made the decision to move back to the Grantsburg area in 1964.
Arleth was a Public Health Nurse in Burnett County for several years. She then had the unique opportunity to become part of Stonecroft Ministries and was a club organizer and speaker for Christian Women’s Clubs in the 5-state area until she married Maurice Erickson of Grantsburg in 1987 at Trade Lake Baptist Church. Maurice passed away in 2001. Arleth stayed on their farm until she moved into the Big Gust apartments in Grantsburg. Then followed a stay at Sophie’s Manor in Centuria and, finally, her last couple of years were as a resident of the Continuing Care Center in Grantsburg.
Arleth was an active member of Trade Lake Baptist Church from childhood. She was a youth group leader, children and adult Sunday School teacher, choir member, Chairperson of the Women’s Ministry, and active member of numerous committees. The development of “Trade Winds,” a church newsletter, was a fulfilling endeavor for many years. She was a member of the Northwest Wisconsin Regional Writers’ Club and published two devotional cookbooks as well as short stories, poems, and articles. She also enjoyed baking, gardening, crocheting (making a rainbow afghan for each of the grandchildren), reading, and entertaining. Her love for her Lord Jesus and the Bible were passionate forces in her daily life. Family and friends rejoice that she is now with Him.
Visitation will be held at the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, WI on Thursday, June 29th from 4 to 7:00 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at Trade Lake Baptist Church on Friday, June 30th - visitation at church will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at
www.rowefh.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, 715-327-4475.
