Blomkest volunteer firefighter Ryan Erickson's body to be escorted home to Kandiyohi County on Tuesday night

Kelly Boldan, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·1 min read

May 17—BLOMKEST

— The body of Blomkest volunteer firefighter Ryan Leif Erickson will be escorted back to Kandiyohi County on Tuesday evening by the Blomkest Fire Department and First Responders.

Erickson, 63, was killed Thursday en route to storm spotter duty when an empty grain bin was blown onto him by straight-line winds in the May 12 storm.

The Erickson hearse escort will be leaving St. Cloud at approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The public is especially invited to line Main Street in Blomkest from approximately 7 to 7:30 p.m Tuesday in honor of Erickson's long service to the Blomkest First Department, the city of Blomkest and Kandiyohi County.

The escort route will be Minnesota Highway 23 to U.S. Highway 71, then south on Highway 71, east on Minnesota Highway 7, then north onto the Main Street of Blomkest (Kandiyohi County Road 11), continuing north on County Road 11, then west on Kandiyohi County Road 3, north on Highway 71 and arriving at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home at 700 Becker Ave. S.W., Willmar, at approximately 7:45 p.m. Tuesday.

A celebration of life for Erickson, a native of Kandiyohi County, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the Refuge Church in Willmar. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery near Blomkest. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church Friday.