Carol L. Erikson

Carol Lynn Erikson (née Johnson), 78, of Hopkins, Minnesota, passed away on April 14, 2026.

Born on February 23, 1948, in Minneapolis, to Manford and Mary Johnson, Carol was raised in Plymouth, Minnesota, and graduated from Wayzata High School in 1966. She went on to earn a nursing degree from Winona State University, beginning a long and meaningful career as an OB/GYN nurse. She was deeply committed to her patients, bringing compassion, strength, and steady care to countless women and families during some of life’s most important moments.

Carol’s life was marked by both resilience and complexity. Her relationships - with family, friends, and partners - were at times complex, yet they were always grounded in a genuine love for others and a deep desire for connection. She faced life’s challenges with determination and took great pride in raising her children through those seasons.

She found joy in gardening. Whether tending to her garden plot or propagating new plants from cuttings, she had a natural gift for helping things grow.

At her core, Carol loved Jesus, and she shared that faith openly with her children, leaving a spiritual legacy that endures. Her family takes comfort in knowing she is now at peace with Him.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Manford and Mary Johnson; her sister, JoAnne Moses; and her son, Karl Schmitz.

She is survived by her siblings, Ron, Sue, and Barb; her children, Erik Schmitz (Norita), Tyra Wentworth (Jason), Anna Erikson, and Bjorn Erikson; her thirteen grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews.

A celebration of life service is planned at Gearty-Delmore in Plymouth, Minnesota on July 2 at 3pm.

Carol will be remembered for her strength, her compassion, and her enduring belief in grace and redemption.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Pregnancy Resource Center in St. Cloud, MN. You may donate using the following link:  In Loving Memory of Carol Erikson