Billie Louise (Briggs) Erickson

89 ‘blessed’ years

Born Sept. 21, 1926, in Rose Lake, Idaho, passed on April 16, 2016, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Billie spent her early years with her older sister, Evelyn, at the Rose Lake Resort where her parents, Cecelia and Charles Briggs, owned a small business renting row boats which her father built, and selling sodas cooled by the ice hut in the summers. Her love for the lake began there, learning to swim and fish which she loved so much and reminisced about often throughout her life. The family moved to Sandpoint for a short time when her dad was transferred for employment, then to Coeur d’Alene where she spent the rest of her life.

She remembers as a young teenager watching from behind her parents front door on Wallace Avenue as the cute paper boy made his daily delivery, not knowing then “Art” would become her future husband. While in high school, they began to date and thus began their love story of 68 wonderful years.

Billie worked at the Naval Supply during the war, commuting to the Spokane Valley. On June 2, 1946, Art and Billie married and moved into their first home, a one-room house just next to the Jewett House on Sanders Beach. Through the years they moved to different neighborhoods in town, finally settling at Nettleton Gulch. Billie designed the plans and together they built and filled their home with love and laughter. Fifty years of traditions and memories were made there.

Billie’s wit and wisdom went beyond the ordinary. With always a humble heart she was gifted with various talents that she excelled at; seamstress, painting, gardening, knitting beautiful sweaters/blankets/hats, writing stories and poems, and was an absolute whiz at crossword puzzles and Scrabble. She loved to make jokes and poke fun with her friends, always the life of the party. Her creativity was endless! She loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest, sailing on Lake Coeur d’Alene, skiing at Lookout, ice skating, fly fishing the various rivers and steams, golfing, bowling, endless road trips with Art, camping, dancing, the list goes on!

She returned to college in 1970 to complete her nursing degree which she graduated at the top of her class. Billie loved her job working in the Nursery Ward at the hospital and also at Dr. Fox’s office. Her greatest joy was her family, as a mom she taught her children core values and modeled hard work and how to stretch a dollar. She taught us about love and forgiveness, generosity, independence, and always helped us feel safe and nurtured, supported and encouraged to follow our dreams. She was calm and strong, fun and creative, a mentor and best friend.

Billie always recognized God’s grace in her life and lived a life of gratitude, she said countless times how blessed her and Art were for the wonderful life, family, and friends God gave them. She collected many inspiring clippings from the newspapers starting in the 1940s. She never quit looking for new things to learn or try (even parasailing in her late 60s!). She leaves an amazing legacy to all who knew her and we will forever remember all the wonderful ways we were blessed by her life and love!

Billie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Arthur, of 68 years and her best friend and sister, Evelyn Nordstrom.

She is survived by her sons, Robert (Bob) and Susan Erickson, and David Erickson and Jacklyn (Holovka); daughters Lynn (Erickson) and Bob Eagle, and Susan (Erickson) and Paul Finney. She leaves behind eight very special grandchildren: Amy Wuest, Jeffery Erickson, Danielle Erickson, Sara Hopkins, Eric Hopkins, Mark Finney, Mike Finney and Holly Nimke. Along with 12 great-grandchildren. A special THANK YOU to the staff, caretakers and her friends at The Bridge at Garden Plaza who gave endless love, friendship and kindness to our mom and dad for several years and also the wonderful support from the “Angels” at the Hospice House in Hayden!

A celebration of life in her remembrance will be scheduled at a later time.