Remembering our roots – LaVerne and Arlene Erickson

By John Godsman Times Contributor

LaVerne’s family originated in Sweden, and in 1860 his grandfather Jonas sailed in a tall ship to North America. He settled in Kulm, N.D. (known as Swede County) where he met his wife, Eva Lindblom, and raised a family of 10 children.
In the 1920s, the family emigrated to Peace River Country, north of Grande Prairie and west of Sexsmith, in northern Alberta. By this time all the children were adults, and eligible to homestead.
LaVerne’s parents, Arnold and Clara, met at the Peace River Bible Institute in Sexsmith in 1935 and were married in Hythe in 1939.
LaVerne was born at the United Church Missions Hospital in Notekiwin while his parents were living in the hamlet of North Star, located seven kilometres south of Manning. Arnold was a pioneer minister in homestead communities throughout the Battle River District of northern Alberta.
LaVerne began elementary school in North Star and Hythe. During this time, the Erickson family grew to include a daughter and another son. In 1953, the Erickson family moved to Edmonton, where LaVerne’s father Arnold pastored Fundamental Baptist Church with Premier Ernest Manning as chair of the board. In 1959, the Arnold Erickson family moved to Rosebud, then to Lethbridge, where LaVerne graduated from high school. After attending Berean Bible college in Calgary for two years, he returned to Lethbridge University where he graduated with a B.A and B.Ed. This was followed by a M.A. from University of Calgary.
Arlene is of Norwegian descent. Her grandparents moved from Norway, Minnesota and North Dakota to settle in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Her father, Arthur Dahlen, a Lutheran pastor, met her mother Gladys Olson in his first parish. They were married in 1950. Arlene, the first of three children, was born in Ponoka. Due to her father’s work, the family lived in numerous communities throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. She graduated from high school in Camrose, then came nursing training in Calgary, followed by bible school, then business college, before working for Petrofina in Calgary. In 1973, Arlene was looking for a summer job and LaVerne was looking for someone to cook for Rosebud Camp of Arts. It was the first summer of a new venture for what is now known as Rosebud School of Arts.
Arlene and LaVerne were married in 1975 and have two children, married daughter Kyrsten, who with husband Nathan Stewart have given Laverne and Arlene three granddaughters, and a son Kjel, living in Toronto.
LaVerne is the founder of The Canadian Badlands Passion Play, performed in Drumheller every July. He coined the name Canadian Badlands which has become an iconic tourism brand. He also helped found the Chemainus Festival Theatre on Vancouver Island, was appointed a travel ambassador by the Travel Industry Association of Alberta, is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Second Jubilee Medal and has been listed by the Calgary Stampede as one of Alberta’s one hundred founding citizens.
LaVerne and Arlene have watched rural communities and their values being forever changed by urbanization and globalization. They are grateful for their home community of Rosebud and its ability to stand against this rising tide and be a beacon of hope and faith in a sea of cultural change.