"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul."
~~This memorial website was created in the memory of Erik Anderson, who was born in Minnesota on May 9, 1988 and was killed in a car accident on February 16, 2005 due to someone else's reckless driving. Erik was 16. He will forever be missed, but never forgotten.~~
Everyone has great things to say about their own child, but when it came to Erik, everyone had great things to say about him. Erik was a wonderful child to raise. He was kind, had a great personality and he was very talented. He respected everyone around him and picked his friends with great care. Erik didn't care about being the big jock in school, or trying to impress people. He was himself, you took him as is or you didn't hang out with him. The thing is, everyone did. He managed to make tons of friends just being himself.
From the time Erik was very young it was apparent he had a great gift for carpentry. Whether it was lego's, Knex's, toothpicks, or popsicle sticks, he could build great buildings, houses, or whatever his mind could come up with. He had a architecture program on the computer and built his dream home countless times. He was in his glory when he was building. If he was asked to go on a trip to Disneyworld, or help build a house, he would pick the house! When it came to his career he also didn't care if he was a doctor, or lawyer etc... He wanted to build houses, and all that mattered to him is he did what he loved. He would have been great at it, I have no doubt. It saddens me I will never see his work. Erik also had a great love of music, I guess you could call it a family history. Music was all around him growing up. In high school, his Ipod, pep band, and his saxophone were a huge part of his life.
The day Erik was taken from us is a day I will never be able to explain to anyone. It's not something you can prepare for, and it's not something your heart will ever mend from. We have accepted what has happened, and are able to move forward with smiles more than tears now, as we remember what a great kid he was. However, that will never fill the permanent void our hearts will always have. I'm so grateful to have had Erik for 16 years, and have tons of wonderful memories. It's not up to me to understand at this point why this happened, I have to trust in god there are reasons I will understand someday. We love you Erik, and miss you beyond words and someday we will see one another again.
Love you always....
~Here are some of the things Erik loved~
~~We also can't forget his video games & letter jacket~~
Links & Videos
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=58825319
Eriks MySpace memorial page
http://www.minnesotansforsafedriving.com/
On MFSD site, click on "stories" to find Erik's
http://lsmma.com/webcam.htm
Erik's favorite place to visit. Duluth, MN
http://www.reportdangerousdrivers.com/
Erik's memorial site is featured on here
"The Simpsons" & "South Park"
Erik's other family members. LOL
NEW!
*A decision was made mid-August 2010 to appoint an editor to Erik's website. This decision was based on the mistreatment on more than one occasion of Erik's site. The editor will screen any and all content before it is added to Erik's website, and also screen all emails sent through his site. A special email address has been set up just for this site. This is a website of a deceased child, and it's unbelievable to us this decision needed to be made, but it will ensure that his family and friends can 100% enjoy his website. With an editor in place, it will allow us to be unaware of any mistreatment, and give us peace of mind when we visit it. Erik's website also has a full tracking system which gives detailed information as to who visits it each day and what they do on their visit. Please keep in mind, any mistreatment of Erik's site is documented and recorded, as it is a form of harassment. Erik's family and friends will not take mistreatment of his site lightly, nor should we be expected too. We are very happy to have an editor in place, and the peace of mind that Erik's site will be treated with respect. Thank you!
*This year we found out if you pay the postage for the Christmas shoeboxes online, they will track them for you and let you know where they went. Our shoeboxes this year went to Dem. Republic of Congo!! It was very exciting to find out were they ended up! We have decided to collect items all year for the Christmas shoeboxes, and the majority of the money donated to Erik's memorial fund will be going towards that. It's very fun to do and a wonderful feeling to make many kids happy. Erik would have loved making sure other kids had gifts for Christmas!
*Erik's story has been choosen by Wright County for Drivers Ed, and will be used for the next 3 years to educate new teen drivers on what can happen when your careless on the roadway. It will be mandatory that the teens attend the class with their parents. The hope is this program will save lives!!
*Erik's memorial benches have been placed at Delano High School at the top of the outdoor auditorium.
*Erik's site has a new feature! You can pick the song you want to listen too when visiting his site. Right above the "Family Tree" icon on the left hand column, you will see the music note icon, and next to it you can choose a song. I have taken all the songs I have had on his site in the past to put on this list. I did not use the songs Erik had on his IPod because many of us cannot relate to them, and they are totally meant for a teenage boy! LOL
*Under the Audio/Video tab, check out the infomercial video that Erik and Kale did for a school project. I cherish it! It has Erik's laugh, his voice, and his goofy personality. It's also nice it was done with one of his best friends!
*New pictures of Erik have been added to the Photo Gallery! Thank you to the Anderson's for the pictures! If anyone else has pictures of Erik, I would love to have them. It means more than you know!
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**UPDATED**
If you would like to contribute to the Erik Anderson Memorial Fund, there is a "Donation" button on the left hand side of this website, above the cross graphic. Click on it and it will bring you to a page where you can donate.
Each year we have been giving to many different things. If we hear a family has fallen on hard times, we want to help. Working at the school has really helped me find families that are in need! We help families in need all year long, not just around the holidays! We still plan on helping families around the holidays, but want to make sure it's not just at that time that we give. Erik's memorial fund helps us give more than we would be able to on our own. Some of the things we do give too are not being listed for the simple fact we do it anonymously. In the true spirit of giving, you don't look for recognition in return!
Recently we gave a full Thanksgiving meal to a family that has fallen upon hard times. What a wonderful feeling on Thanksgiving day to know they had a wonderful meal! We also are having a great time doing the shoeboxes for kids. Dale and I have really gotten into this event and are starting to collect items all year to fill our shoeboxes! It's such a great feeling to know that we are going to touch a childs life when they receive their box. This year we had all our boxes tracked so we know where they go! I'm so excited to find out where they end up! As we always do we are helping a few families out this Christmas. We have been so blessed this year, we are glad to help out others, and make sure their holiday is a happy one!
There are many other things we hope to do with Erik's memorial fund as the years pass. We want to see it grow to be bigger & better! With your help we can achieve this. We would like to see his fund grow to be able to continue to do the things we already are, but also be able to offer other services as well. Thank you so much to all that help support Erik's memorial fund, it is greatly appreciated by us, and all the families that benefit from it!!
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Slideshow
Latest Memories
Erik,
I hung all our laundry out today, as I usually do in the summer, because Dale and I love that fresh smell! I remembered how you used to hate it when I hung your laundry outside because you said it felt "crunchy." LOL You really hated it when I hung the towels out, you said they hurt your skin because they were not soft.
Whine, Whine, Whine....
I love ya bud, and hanging laundry outside, was just one of those nice mommy things I did, so everyone could appreciate the fresh smelll. Except you. I did it to torture you. LOL 
xoxoxoxox
Erik, I don't know why I was thinking about this today since it's no where near your Mom's birthday, but I was thinking about one time when you and your Mom were alone. I had a birthday party for your Mom at my house. Some time before the party, I took you to the store so you could pick out a present and a cake for your Mom. I can't remember what you got for a present, but I remember telling you to pick out something you thought your Mom would like, so for the cake, you picked out a sheet cake covered in cars and trucks. LOL!! I wish I knew what you were thinking. I mean, were you thinking she would really just love that cars and trucks cake because you liked it so you thought everyone else would want that kind of cake or were you thinking she would like the cake and you could have the cars. ROFLMBO! Either way, it was so sweet that you picked that one.
Erik the other day I sat upstairs in the man room which use to be your room, and thought about you and I playing football on the play station I won a couple but when I lost to you I had a two year old fit (LOL). I plan on playing at least one football game in your honor today, God I wish you were still here, there was so much more I wish we could have done together, but God had blessed us with the time we had together and for that I am thankful for.We always have to remember down here on earth even if only for a short time or a long time you are with someone, that they are true blessings
So with that I thank God for our time.
Love Dale
Erik as another hunting season has just ended and a new season to come I sit back and think of the one hunting season we spent together over at my friends farm. You did not want to go to on a long trip for deer hunting we hunted close to home. I put you in a spot I would hope a deer would come off the field to you in the morning and it worked you seen one deer but you did not get a shot, I so wanted you to get a deer. You went home that morning and told your mom that you thought I was mad at you because you did not shoot, but that was not it I just really wanted you to shoot a deer. The next time we went out was after work on the last night that you could get out, it was a beautiful night but we did not even see a deer, as we walked out that last night the sun was setting and we were walking back to the truck I put my hand on your shoulder and said we will get you one next year the setting was unforgettable it was defiantly Gods love shining down on us. thanks for the time we had, God bless you.
With Valentines Day approaching, it reminded me of how cute you were a few days before the accident, when you went to buy your girlfriend Kallie her gift. You talked to me and Evan about what would be the best way to give her flowers. Just give them to her, or have them sent to her in school. I told you that girls love getting that kind of thing in front of other people, it makes them feel special so send them to school. You went down to the floral shop, and came back totally shocked at how much flowers were. LOL It was fo funny, you just couldn't believe it. It took all your money! You really liked her, so it was OK.
I talked to Kallie just the other day for quite a while. She is still as sweet as ever and she misses you Erik. Kallie will always hold a special place in my heart too. She is a doll.
Mom
