Lloyd (Swede) Erickson of Elwood, Illinois. Born July 3, 1917,
in Du Page Township. Resided in Elwood since he and Kathleen
O’Connor were married August 30, 1947. He was owner and
operator of the Elwood Farm Equipment. He held the 1st patent on
the 4-wheel drive conversion units for farm tractors. Lloyd was a
Charter Member and Director of the Will County Threshermen
Association, Member and Director of the Northern Illinois Steam
Power Club, and was serving his 2nd term as a member of the Village
Board of Elwood. Lloyd’s hobby was restoring gas tractors and
engines, which he exhibited at various shows in the Midwest area.
He also transported heavy machinery and equipment to shows giving
people an opportunity to see how the land was farmed years ago.
That’s me in the derby attending my display of gas engines
at Rock Co. Thresheree held at their park north of Janesville,
Wisconsin, on Labor Day week-end.
Lloyd had stopped, January 29, 1971, at Ettrick, Wise., on his
way home from a business trip to Minneapolis-Moline at Hopkins,
Minnesota, to visit relatives. He and his cousin, Bud Smith, were
returning to Bud’s farm on the out-skirts of Ettrick, when an
on-coming car crossed over and hit them head on. The other driver
was killed. Lloyd was taken to Whitehall, Wisc, and Bud to
Rochester, Minn. Lloyd was later taken to the Luther Hospital, Eau
Claire, Wise., where he succumbed from crushing injuries, Feb. 5,
1971. He was preceded in death by his Father, Charles Erickson,
April 24, 1968, who won many prizes in the plowing contests.
Lloyd was a mechanical genius. His ability conjured the interest
of young people as well as the old timers. He could repair and
remake anything and make it work. Lloyd was a great man — a person
hard to forget.
