David (Dave) Leon Erickson, resident of Cougar Gulch, Coeur d'Alene, went onto his next adventure walking with our Lord on Oct. 18, 2012, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Dave was born March 14, 1946, to Jordan and Nina (Kraft) Erickson, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He attended Fort Dodge Schools and graduated in 1964.

He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force achieving the the rank of sergeant from June 1965 through February 1969 stationed at Beale Airforce base in Yuba City – Marysville, California.

While serving in the Air Force, Dave was an aerospace ground equipment technician on the Start Cart for the Lockheed-USAF SR-71 Advanced Reconnaissance Aircraft and a scout master for the Boy Scouts USA located on the base.

After leaving the military, Dave and his brothers, Butch and Harley, owned and operated an automotive repair business in Glendora, Calif., until 1973.

Dave moved to the Coeur d’Alene area in 1973. He worked in the recreational vehicle (RV) business from 1975 and in 1995 he opened and operated Erickson’s RV in Coeur d’Alene. On July 19, 1990, he and Audrey Stach exchanged vows in the presence of God, family and friends. Dave enjoyed working, visiting, camping, hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, snowmobiling, and helping people to better themselves in life. He belonged to numerous clubs including: ATV Clubs, Coeur d’Alene Chamber, Coeur d’Alene Eagles, Sam Rodius Memorial Park Association and the Idaho Auto Dealers Association.

Dave is survived by his wife, Audrey; son Travis (Erin), grandson Drake, Post Falls; daughter Natalie (Mike) Bochart, grandson Jordan, Newberg, Ore.; daughter Cherie Butterfield Bates, San Ramon, Calif., grandson Shawn Butterfield, Spokane; sister, Marlene (Dennis) Berte, Fort Dodge, Iowa; brothers Butch (Mary), Lake Havasu, Ariz.; Jerry (Charlene), Little Falls, Minn.; Al (Judy), Rogersville, Tenn.; and Harley (Lorna), Elizabeth, Colo.; sister-in-law Sandi Werthe, Laguna Beach, Calif. Numerous Erickson family cousins, nephews and nieces throughout the U.S.; members of the Stach families in Coeur d’Alene and Canada; long-time Erickson’s RV employees and ... bunches and bunches of friends.

Dave is preceded on his journey by his parents, Jordan and Nina Erickson; stepfather Robert Watkins, brother-in-law Harold (Hal) Werthe; sister-in-law Helen Erickson and best buddy Cody.

A celebration of life will be held at Lake City Community Church, at 6000 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d’Alene, at 11 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2012, officiated by the Rev. Bob Newcomb. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d’Alene, is in care of arrangements.