France P. (Fran) Erickson, 84, passed away April 6, 2002 in a local area hospital from sudden and unexpected medical complications.
She was born in Tetonia, Idaho on April 25, 1918, the daughter of Mabel Hochstrasser. When she was two years old her mother married Guy Trone and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and then to Coalville, Utah four years later where she attended school. She grew up in a large family with two step sisters, Zella Williams and Stella Thatcher, three step brothers, Elmer, Leslie and Russell, all deceased; three half sisters, Alice Leavitt, Salt Lake City; Aleen (deceased) and Irene Darrach, Salt Lake City; and three half brothers, Junior (deceased), Raymond, Portland, Oregon; and Kenneth, St. George, Utah. At the young age of 16, she left Coalville to make a new life on her own in Salt Lake City, Utah. Soon after, she met William Victor Erickson, born October 1, 1913 to Victor and Lisa Greta Erickson. They were married June 7, 1935 and later had two sons: William Victor Erickson, Jr. born January 17, 1936 and Ronald Paul Erickson, born September 30, 1937, died June 5, 1998. She had two grandsons, Todd and Pace Erickson.
In the summer of 1941 she and her husband, Bill, moved to Bountiful and started a road side restaurant, Wild Horse Charlies. She had her third son, Russell Dee Erickson on August 1, 1943. They operated Wild Horse Charlies for 37 years and were open for business seven days a week where she worked beside her husband until they retired in August 1978. Wild Horse Charlies, serving great food made from scratch and its "bucking horse" sign, became a landmark and social gathering spot for much of the area including the Bountiful Jeep Posse. After retiring in 1978, she and her husband, Bill, enjoyed traveling until he died on April 10, 1985 at the age of 73. She spent the last 13 years of her life living in Centerville in her condo she decorated as only she could. She enjoyed visiting with her many brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews who were all kind to her. She was well known in the community, and she had many, many close supportive and loving friends. She was especially close to her brother and his wife, Kenneth and Colleen Trone; her niece and husband, Aleen and Eldon Riding; her niece and husband, Dinnene and Paul Jensen; her nephew and wife, Dennis and Diane Trone; nephew and wife, Richard and Elvira Leavitt, who were all thoughtful, kind and caring. In the last year of her life, it brought her great joy to learn of, locate and meet previously unknown relatives on her father's side: nephew, Ronald Roy Stone, Liberty Lake Washington; niece, Stephanie Stone Agnew, Spokane, Washington; cousins, Earl Stone Jr., Victoria Hamman and Linda Miller, Logan, Utah and Sue Bateman, St. George, Utah. Fran excelled at all she attempted. She was a great cook, homemaker, seamstress and enjoyed crocheting. Her sewn and crocheted pieces won numerous blue ribbons in the State and County fairs. She was unconventional and colorful with a creative flair in everything, including food, decorating and clothes. Her favorite time was Christmas, and she made it a magical time for her children.
Her son, Dee, was devoted to her, tended to her many needs, and was at her bedside at the time of death. Mother dear, I love you, I thank you for all you taught me and all you sacrificed for me, and I will miss you beyond words. Love, Dee.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 11, 2002 at 12:00 noon at the Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, where friends may call Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Thursday morning from 10:45-11:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment-Bountiful City Cemetery.
Online guest book and direction map at www.russonmortuary.com