Clarence Erickson, 84 of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away at his home on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.   Clarence Burnell Erickson, son of John and Anna (Hanson), was born on June 8, 1923 near Vermillion, SD and remained in the area, graduating from Vermillion High School in 1941.   After various jobs he was employed at the Greyhound Bus Depot in Sioux Falls, until he enlisted in the US Navy in 1943 and was stationed in Farragut, Idaho. He was united in marriage to Neva Pauline Martinsen on July 19, 1944. After spending time in Spokane and the Corpus Christi Naval Base, he was honorably discharged in 1946.   The couple then moved to Sioux Falls, where Clarence returned to his job at the bus depot. In 1947, Clarence was employed by what is now First Premier Bank until his retirement in 1988. During his employment he held many positions, including V.P.  of a branch bank. He then worked at Agricultural Statistics Office.   Clarence was a member of First Lutheran Church and the American Legion Voyageur Militaire.    He had a great love for sports and served as the president of the Sioux Falls Packers baseball team. He also was an avid bowler.   Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Neva, Sioux Falls, SD; daughters Sheryl R. McKnelly and her husband Lloyd, Chancellor, SD, Lynay Erickson, Harrisburg, SD; brothers, Ernest Erickson and his wife Doris, CA, Lt. Col. Arthur Erickson, Salem, NY, Richard Erickson and his wife Charlotte, Yankton, SD; 5 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.   Clarence was preceded in death by a daughter Janalyn Neva; three brothers, Sigward, John, Melvin; and three sisters, Mildred, Anna Mae, and Catherine.

A graveside service will be held at 1 pm on Friday, May 9, 2008, at Woodlawn Cemetery with a memorial service to follow at 2 pm at First Lutheran Church.