Peggy Jean Erickson

Peggy Jean Erickson, of Phoenix, AZ, the daughter of Orland “Ole” Erickson and Elizabeth  (McGregor-Erickson) deBrauwere, was born January 31, 1945, in Greeley, Colorado and  passed away February 23, 2026, at Hospice in the Valley, Sherman House, Phoenix, AZ, at the age of 81. 

Peggy attended grade school and high school in Scandia, graduating from Scandia High School in 1963.  

After high school, Peggy received a BA in Family and Child Development with special  emphasis on child psychology from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas in 1967.  In May of 1970 she graduated from Asbury Hospital School of Nursing in Salina, Kansas.  

She joined the Air Force Reserves gaining the rank of First Lieutenant, with assignments of  Flight Nurse/Flight Instructor/Flight Examiner.  

After her stay in the military, she returned to the University of Kansas School of Nursing,  receiving a Masters of Science in Nursing and Maternal-Child Nursing and Community  Nursing.  

Positions Peggy held were: President of Bradrick Enterprises, Founder of Mid-America  Inventors Association, President of Kansas State Nurses’ Association, President Elect of  Kansas Organization of Nursing Executives, Inservice Education Instructor at Children’s  Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO; Instructor of Pediatrics at The Children’s Mercy  Hospital, Kansas City, MO; Teaching Assistant at the University of Kansas School of  Nursing, Kansas City, KS; Instructor of Pediatrics at Avila College, Kansas City, MO; Clinical  Instructor and Nursing Supervisor at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, University of MO – Kansas City; & Vice-President of Nursing at the Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend, KS. 

Peggy was an Entrepreneur, Inventor, Author, & Photographer. She developed prototypes, obtained patents, trademarks, and copyrights on products ready for manufacturing and marketing. She authored two books, “The International Travel Guide – “Don’t Leave Home Without One”, and “How to Improve Your Disposition”, as well as many articles in Health Care Magazines. Also, authored a new contemporary baby book with pullout, personalized photo calendar. One of her photography pictures earned a place in the Library of Congress Art Exhibit. 

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Orland Erickson and Elizabeth deBrauwere,  brother, Erick Erickson, sister-in-law, Dolores Erickson , brothers-in-law, Howard E. Reed  and Thomas Beebe, and step-brother Bob Slaughter. 

Peggy is survived by her three sisters, Sally Beebe of Clinton, MO, Beth Reed of Belleville,  KS, Cynthia Baize (Doug Maze) of Phoenix, AZ, and one brother, James Erickson of Scandia,  KS. step-sisters, Anne Slaughter, of Henderson, Tennessee, Debbie deBrauwere of Savannah, Georgia, one step-brother, Scott deBrauwere of Amelia Island, Florida, sister-in-law Connie Hosofros of Cheyenne, Wyoming, five nieces, six nephews, ten great-nieces,  eight great-nephews, other relatives, and friends. 

Inurnment committal service will be held at 10:30am Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Valley Cemetery, rural Norway, Kansas. 

Celebration of Life services will be held June 20, 2026 at 2:00pm at the Scandia United Methodist Church in Scandia, Kansas, with Pastor Sandra Jellison-Knock, officiating.  

Memorials are suggested to the Scandia United Methodist Church or Scandia Museum in care of the funeral home, PO Box 326, Belleville, KS 66935.

Online condolences at www.bachelor-surber.com. 

Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville and Scandia, KS is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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