Cheryl Lynn Erickson

Cheryl Lynn (Jakanoski) Erickson, 63, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016, at her home in Billings, Mont.

A Celebration of Lifewill be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10, at Bell Mortuary, in Glasgow, with a luncheon to follow.

She was born in Glasgow to John and Nadine Jakanoski, the second of five children. She grew up on the family wheat farm southeast of Glasgow, liked to be outdoors, and loved the horses and cows as a child.

She went to the one-room Newton School until grade 7, and later graduated from Glasgow High School in 1970. She went to college and became a registered nurse, working at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow.

She did many things as a nurse, including labor and delivery, and working at the OB/GYN clinic for Dr. Lawrence Palazzo. Her empathy and caring for patients, paired with her intelligence, made her a valuable nurse as well as endearing her to many she cared for.

In 1975, she married Dan Maag of Glasgow. They later divorced, and she married Lynn Sather in 1981. Together they adopted their daughter from South Korea, Jana Marie Sather. After many years of marriage, they too divorced.

Cheryl moved to Havre, where she worked in public health, and also in a clinic. Here, she met Max Erickson, and they married after growing to love each other. He owned Beaver Creek Golf Course in Havre, and also worked at DA Davidson. She no longer worked as a nurse, but joined him in helping run the golf course, pro shop, etc. ping, and cooked for events. It kept her busy until Max retired from DA Davidson, and they moved to Billings in 2012, eventually selling the golf course. He soon took on a job at Lithia Toyota, perfectly suited to his personable and gregarious personality.

She helped her youngest sister, Lana, with her two daughters, Brynn and Savannah, taking them to or from school, and enjoyed her time with them.

She loved to garden, was artistic, a great cook, an exceptionally thoughtful gift giver, and a caring nurse. We take comfort knowing she is at peace.

Survivors include her husband, Max Erickson; a daughter, Jana Sather; her mother, Nadine Jakanoski; one sister, Paula Hicks and her husband, Andy; two brothers, Mark Jakanoski and Scott Jakanoski and his wife, Kim; a sister, Lana Koch and her husband, Jamie; four nieces, Leah Miller and her husband, Nate, Bridget Sholley and her husband, Justin, Brynn Feldman, Savannah Feldman; two great nieces, Tatumn Sholley and Tessa Miller; three great-nephews, Vaughn Miller, Bo Sholley and Tucker Sholley, as well as several cousins.

"I have passed the mountain peak and my soul is soaring in the firmament of complete and unbounded freedom; I am in comfort. I am in peace."