Erma J. (Johnson) Kickertz

Erma Kickertz, age 94, of Glenwood, MN, died Thursday, September 15, 2022, at Glenwood Retirement Village. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 21st at Glenwood Lutheran Church with Rev. Mark Manning officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 20th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. 

Erma Juliette Johnson, the youngest of Martin and Emma (Brendmoe) Johnson’s six children, was born in Osakis, MN, on January 30, 1928. She grew up on a farm near Osakis and attended Osakis public school. She was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church. As a young woman she attended school in Minneapolis where she trained to be a licensed practical nurse. Afterward she worked various nursing jobs in the metro area.

On October 21, 1950, Erma was united in marriage to Orlin Norbert Overstad of Glenwood at Salem Lutheran Church in Osakis. They made their home in Glenwood for a short time before moving to Minneapolis where Orlin worked for the Soo Line Railroad. In 1957, they purchased an 80-acre farm near Sedan, which enabled them to be close to family in Glenwood and Osakis. By this time, their family included their sons, Gary and Scott and their three daughters, Sharon, Sandy and Julie. After the move, Orlin continued to work for the railroad until in 1964, at the age of 38, he was tragically killed in an accident while at work. Erma and the five children continued to live on the farm, and she worked as an LPN at the hospital in Glenwood.

After losing Orlin, Erma was fortunate to find love again with Fred Kickertz of Glenwood. Like Erma, Fred had tragically lost his spouse and was left to raise their six children by himself. The two married on November 28, 1968, at Glenwood Lutheran Church, and became a family of thirteen! Fred and his youngest son, Jimmy, joined Erma on her farm where the pair lived before moving to Pelican Lake. Fred and Erma shared 40 years of marriage before his death in 2009.

Erma was an active member of Glenwood Lutheran Church. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, computer games, card games, baking, and growing flowers and vegetables in her garden. She also was very fond of cats.

Erma died on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at Glenwood Retirement Village having reached the age of 94 years. She will be remembered as a loving mother/stepmother and grandma, as well as for her wonderful sense of humor and for being a gracious hostess who always had coffee and homemade sweet treats on hand for guests.

Erma is survived by four of her children, Gary (Lori) Overstad of Anchorage, AK, Sharon Robards of Starbuck, Sandy (Richard) Larson of Starbuck, and Julie Erickson of Glenwood; 19 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren; four step-children, Virginia Kickertz of San Pedro, CA, Betty Jean (Lee) Recknor of Rochester, Allan (Kathy) Kickertz of Elburn, IL, and Genevieve Murtaugh of Madison, WI; step-daughter in law, Betty Brown Kickertz; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Erma was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Emma Johnson; two husbands, Orlin Overstad and Fred Kickertz; one son, Scott Overstad; one granddaughter, Shana Erickson Zins; one great-grandson, Boe Zins; two-stepsons, Fred E. Kickertz and Jim Kickertz; her sister, Mae Hassell; and four brothers, Paul, LeRoy, Marlo, and Orville.

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