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CRYSTAL FALLS -- Glen William Erickson Sr., 79, passed away in the comfort of his home Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.
Born Dec. 16, 1946, Glen was the son of the late Toivo H. Erickson and May (Owens) Wilgren Erickson and brother to the late Joyce (Wilgren) Novey, June (Wilgren) Farvour, and Robert H. Erickson. A lifelong resident of Crystal Falls, he attended Forest Park Schools.
Glen was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Vietnam, where he proudly served from February 1966 until November 1967.
He met his future wife, Rietta (Stebbins), in late 1968 and the pair married the following year. Rietta and Glen restored his grandparents' farmhouse, where they resided, raising a family and making memories for the next several decades.
Glen, also known to friends as "Midge," was a car guy: drag racing as a teenager on the "main drag" in town; attending the Iola Car Show over 50 times; spending Friday nights at stock car races at Norway Speedway; collecting classic cars; repairing and rebuilding engines; and sharing his deep knowledge of (mostly General Motors) cars with others. He and Rietta were active members of the Crystal Falls Classic Car Club.
Midge was a diehard Ski-Doo guy, earning several trophies over the years of running his 1972 Blizzard at Tip Up Town, and maintaining local trails as an early member of the Chippewa Sno-Kats. Midge was also a proud U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran and V.F.W. member of the Tufts Rondon Post 2891 in Crystal Falls. In 2017, he joined fellow military veterans on Upper Peninsula Honor Flight Mission XIII to Washington, D.C., for the experience of a lifetime with his daughter, Kim, by his side.
Midge was, most notably, a good guy: loving husband, gentle father, proud grandfather, loyal friend, and true Finn.
Surviving is his wife of 56 years, Rietta (Stebbins) Erickson; daughter Kim (Stanley) Stankiewicz; son Glen (Jenny) Erickson Jr.; daughter Tina (Ed Schweitzer) Erickson; grandchildren Tyler Stankiewicz, Cayden Erickson, Malorie Erickson, Toivo Erickson-Schweitzer, and Magnus Erickson-Schweitzer. He also leaves behind brother-in-law Keith "Butch" (Karen) Stebbins; sister-in-law Marsha Sleeman; brother-in-law Dean Stebbins; brother-in-law Ron (Sylviana) Stebbins; nephew James (Cindy) Demeny; nephews and nieces; cousins; and countless friends.
Glen was preceded in death by his parents, Toivo and May; sister Joyce; sister June; brother Robert; great-nephew Aaron Ryan Demeny; father-in-law Keith Stebbins; mother-in-law Lila (Norkoli) Stebbins; and brother-in-law Douglas Stebbins. Also leaving before him were many loved friends.
The family extends special thanks to Bellin Hospital Cancer Center and Dickinson County VA Hospital.
Visitation will be at Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. The memorial service will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with Pastor Vicky Prewitt officiating. A military burial will be followed by a luncheon, to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Upper Peninsula Honor Flight and Iron County Cancer Unit.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Glen's family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
The family has chosen Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Crystal Falls, to honor Glen's legacy of life.