James Erickson, 81Sauk Rapids, MNAmes, IADec. 31, 1935 - Oct. 11, 2017James Erickson, age 81, died unexpectedly on October 11, 2017, while visiting family in San Diego, CA.  Services celebrating Jim's life will be at 11:00 a.m. on November 4, 2017, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN, officiated by Reverend Dee Pederson. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.James is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jan (Jacobson) Erickson; his children, Tracy (John) Fraedrich, Circle Pines; David (Lisa) Erickson, Sartell; Molly (Ben) Jenkins, San Diego; as well as his beloved grandchildren, Olivia, Christian, Max, Owen, and Ole. Other survivors include his brother, Reverend Richard (Mavis) Erickson, sisters and brothers-in-law, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, and two brothers.James was born on December 31, 1935, in Ames, Iowa, to parents, Lloyd and Josie (Prescott) Erickson. He graduated from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Iowa, and went on to Waldorf College and Iowa State University. He served in the Army from 1957-1960.He later moved to MN and met Jan, a student nurse, at Fairview Hospital, where he was employed. They were married on November 5, 1966, in Fergus Falls. They moved to Sauk Rapids, where he worked for State Services for the Blind for 35 years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.James was a loving father and grandfather. He was a very social person, who loved meeting and starting conversations with new people. James enjoyed acting and appeared in multiple theater and film productions, including the Gale Whitman Show, Mighty Ducks, and working as a double for Jack Lemmon in Grumpier Old Men. James was active in the community, including reading in church and to children in elementary schools for the RSVP Readers' Theater Group. He was always busy working on a project or finding his next invention. Jim was a passionate advocate for his family and others. He will be greatly missed.