Dashiell Erickson

Dashiell Erickson was killed by an avalanche Saturday, January 2, 2016, while snow machining with friends on a small mining road near Craggy Creek in Hatcher Pass. Despite the heroic efforts of his devoted friends to revive him he was killed instantly.

“Dash” was born October 29, 1980, in Anchorage, Alaska and adopted at birth by Trygve and Dixie Erickson through Catholic Social Services. He attended Anchorage schools and spent weekends at the family cabin on Long Lake in Willow. From an early age Dash had a knack for making and keeping friends as well as enjoying the Alaska outdoors. Weekends and vacations would find Dash engaged in rafting, floating, boating, canoeing, dirt biking, 4-wheeling, fishing, flying, kayaking, shooting, archery, hunting, camping, hiking and, most of all, snow machining. For the past 12 years most of his activities were with the only girl to capture his undying love, his wife Lisa Erickson. Dash, to the surprise of his friends and family, proved to be an exceptionally devoted husband.

For the past decade Dash worked as a carpenter, first on framing crews then for Rural CAP. Two years ago Dash was hired by the Municipality as a journeyman carpenter in the Property & Facilities Division. He had found a job he planned to make a career. This last summer Dash and Lisa purchased a large house on expansive property in South Anchorage and were making it into the home of their dreams.

Dash is survived by his wife, Lisa, of Anchorage. Also surviving are mother Dixie Erickson of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; father and stepmother, Trygve and Kim Erickson of Willow; mother and father-in-law, Lon and Becky Byrne of Huntsville, Alabama; sisters Dessa Shanahan (Nick) and Mara Haber of Florida, stepsister Amanda Boger, bonus sister Erika Quade (Brad), and grandmother Dixie Myrberg of Anchorage; step-grandmother Thea Whitehead of Colorado, and uncles and aunts in Alaska, Oregon, Nebraska and Florida. He also leaves and is cherished by cousins Don, Kelsey, Kara, Robby, Krista, Jennifer, Denis, Kenny, Sherry, Kristen, Diana, Conner, Steven, Matthew and Casey; nieces and nephews Mahraya, Ava, Adeline, Ania, Makena, Aiden, Collin and Ivan. He also leaves behind his beloved and devoted dogs, Deshka and Kino.

A casual and informal celebration with shared memories of Dash will be held Saturday, January 9, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Kincaid Park Chalet in Anchorage. Food and drink will be provided.

A “Memorial Fund for Dash Erickson” has been established at Northrim Bank and contributions to benefit Alaska Mountain Rescue Group or Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue may be made at any Northrim branch.