Irene Erickson
Obituary
Longtime Alaska resident Irene Erickson died Jan. 6, 2008, in Juneau with her children by her side. She was 81.
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Born July 4, 1926, to Ukrainian parents Steve and Lydia Bokovoy, she was raised in Max, N.D. Working as a telegraph operator for the railroad in Washington, she met and married Pete Erickson. They had five children, moving to Alaska aboard the Irene E in search of "a little more elbow room up north" to raise their family.
With the vessel needing a few repairs in May 1967, Petersburg seemed a good place to plant their Alaska roots.
She commercial-fished and worked in the industry for many years. Family members said because of her unique and remarkable ability to make just about anything taste great, she was urged to open Irene's Restaurant, in Petersburg, and later Irene's Inn, in Skagway.
Family said she will long be remembered for her homemade soups and pies. She was truly an Alaska pioneer and touched the lives of many, they said.
After the passing of her husband in 1984, she pursued her quest of travel. She visited 35 states in less than six weeks, in an attempt to earn state stickers for her motor home.
Aside from her extensive U.S. travel, she made many visits to Mexico and Canada, including a memorable six week trip to Australia.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and sisters, Jeanette Rice and Lila Schirmann.
She is survived by her brothers, Robert and Roy Bokovoy; sister, Betty Ganje; sons, Steve Erickson and Mike Erickson and his wife, Bonnie; daughters, Judy Erickson and Sue Hosford and her husband, Mike, and Kathy Hosford and her husband, Fred; grandchildren, Stephanie Shirtleff, Rachel Spence, Becky Weimer, Jim Erickson, Heather Hosford, Jared Erickson, Clint Davis, Desi Tucker, Eric Hosford and Christy Flake; great-grandchildren, Joey Hosford, Kelsie Weimer, Brittni Weimer, Tyler Burns, Devin Flake, Mike Burns, Jesse Flake, Andrew Burns, Camden Erickson, Carson Tucker, Kali Tucker and Aiden Spence.
A service will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at the Alaskan Memorial Park, 3839 Riverside Drive, with a reception following at Mike Erickson's home, 3835 Killewich Drive.
Concluding services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, in Petersburg beginning at the Petersburg Bible Church on Skylark Drive, following with a graveside service at her final resting place next to her husband. A celebration of her life will be at 3 p.m. at the Petersburg Moose Lodge.
A memorial fund has been created in honor of Irene to help create awareness of peripheral arterial disease through the American Heart Association, 3700 Woodland Drive, Suite 700, Anchorage, AK, 99517.