Obituary: Woodrow C. Eriksen
Woodrow C. Eriksen died April 13, 2015, in Elko with family at his side. He was 94 years old. Woodrow was born in Oxford, Idaho. He spent most of his life in Idaho, Winnemucca, and Orovada, Nevada. He was born Feburary 3, 1921, the eldest of six sons of Jeron and Susan Croshaw Eriksen. Ever competitive, he managed to make his appearance several minutes before his identical, mirror-image twin, Warren.
Woodrow was raised in Oxford, Idaho, and graduated from Downey High School in Downey, Idaho. He met his wife of 68 years, Rilda Aldous while at Downey High. He was a well-liked and outstanding athlete in multiple sports. He attended Idaho State University, where he played basketball and football. He was the intramural boxing champion of Idaho State and won the Golden Gloves for the state of Idaho.
Woodrow was drafted into the Army in 1942. He served in the 7th Infantry division during World War II in the Pacific. He fought on both Guam and Okinawa. He sustained a chest injury on Okinawa and was spent a year in the hospital. After returning from the war, Woodrow tried of variety of careers from boilermaker to bar owner before purchasing Winnemucca Propane in 1949. He and Rilda made their home in Winnemucca and raised their daughters, Peggy and Linda there. They purchased the Rocky View Ranch in Orovada in 1958 and eventually sold the propane business to become full-time ranchers. Although he raised cattle and hay, Woodrow’s passion was racing – both cars and American Quarter horses. He trained his own horses and raced them all over the West for four decades. In 1963, his horses won 25 races before the 4th of July.
He raced cars and even built a propane-fuelled race car. A replica of one of his drag racers that was featured in Hot Rod magazine’s March 2002 issue, is displayed at the Humboldt Historical Society in Winnemucca. That car, fueled with 75 percent nitro and 25 percent alcohol, set a quarter mile record of 144 mph at the Douglas-Tahoe airport in 1957.
He was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and wife, Rilda Aldous Eriksen, his parents, identical twin brother, Warren, and his wife LuDean; twin brothers Roy and Ray, brothers Daryl and Milton; infant son Michael; great grandson Mikel Garcicea; nieces Teddy Eriksen Taylor and Kimberly Eriksen; great nephew Kristopher Eriksen; and son-in-law John C. Miller.
Woodrow is survived by his daughters Peggy L. Miller and Linda S. Sullivan both of Elko; sisters-in-law Phyllis Eriksen of Wells and Buhl, Idaho; and Carol Aldous of Winnemucca.
He is also survived by grandchildren Woodra Ann (Dean) Bullock of Battle Mountain; Kristin (Neil) McQueary of Elko and Ruby Valley; Meghan Lewis (Ron) of Reno; Jodi Jacaway of St. George, Utah; Swen (Dyan) Sullivan of West Jordan, Utah; and Sadie Sullivan of Battle Mountain. He also has 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Three more great-great grandchildren are expected, including a set of twins. Woodrow is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
Services will be held at the Orovada Community Hall on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at 1 p.m., with interment at the Orovada Cemetery. Luncheon will follow at the Orovada Community Hall.