Clyde J. "Sparky" Erickson - Longmont, Colo.

ROCHESTER — Clyde Jonas "Sparky" Erickson, of Longmont, died June 24, 2010, at his residence. He was 77.

Sparky was born on March 3, 1933, in Nokay Lake Township, near South Long Lake, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the Destroyer Escort USS DeLong during the Korean War. On July 23, 1955, he married Maurine Hendricks in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They would have celebrated 55 years of marriage this July.

Sparky worked as a forest ranger with the state of Minnesota. In 1957 he joined IBM in Rochester. He was transferred to Boulder, Colorado, in 1965 as a project manager. He retired in 1990.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a daughter, Cindy Erickson.

Surviving are his wife of Longmont; three sons, Eric, Marco and Milton, all of Colorado; his brothers, Herbert (Jerine) Erickson and Tyrone (Sharon) Erickson, all of Rochester; two granddaughters; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Cremation has been entrusted to the Howe Mortuary, Longmont, Colorado.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 2, at the LifeBridge Christian Church, 10345 Ute Highway, Longmont, CO 80504, with Rick Rusaw officiating.

Contributions may be made to the LifeBridge Christian Church, 10345 Ute Highway, Longmont, CO 80504 or EverCare Hospice, 6455 S. Yosemite St., Englewood, CO 80111; in care of Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, CO 80501.