Erik Paul Rocksund, 55
Erik Paul Rocksund, 55, died on Wednesday, April 20, 2005; peacefully at his home north of Columbia Falls, after a heroic battle with cancer.
He was born in Oak Park, Ill., a small suburb outside of Chicago, on March 27, 1950, to William "Bill" and Erma Mary (Nuss) Rocksund. Erik's family moved to Whitefish when he was 5 years old where he attended elementary school and high school. He learned to hunt, fish, and farm and to love the outdoors on his family's farm in Whitefish. He played the tuba in the high school band and was a center to be reckoned with on the varsity football team. He was also a member of the Whitefish Ski Team and represented Whitefish in the Junior Nationals. He graduated from Whitefish High School in 1968.
Erik graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors from the University of Montana in Missoula, in 1975, with majors in psychology and social work. He took a break during his college years to fish commercially on the Pacific Coast and worked his way through college logging on his family's 170 acres north of Columbia Falls, where he later made his home.
Eric met Jill Beaumont while playing cribbage at the "old" Place for Steaks in Whitefish, in 1974. They married on Dec. 20, 1975, and moved to Columbia, Mo. Erik worked as probation and parole officer with the Missouri Department of Corrections for several years, then decided to attend law school. He graduated with a law degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, in 1982. He and Jill moved back to the Flathead Valley in 1983 where they raised their family and later divorced.
Gunnar was born Feb. 5, 1984, following by Tait on Jan. 13, 1986. Erik was a wonderful father who shared his love of hunting, fishing, and cutting firewood with his sons. As often as he could make it, he and his family packed up the Middle Fork to their hunting camp to hunt elk, a source of many stories. Soccer was a passion for Erik and he especially loved watching his boys play. The boys became skilled soccer players through his encouragement and coaching. Erik volunteered for 12 years as a youth coach with the Columbia Falls Youth Soccer Association.
Eric was an active community leader. He was a member of the Kiwanis club for many years, putting up flags, selling Christmas trees, and helping to organize the annual Motocross Races. Gunnar and Tait could often be seen helping their dad.
Erik was a respected attorney practicing in Columbia Falls in the "old Bank" building for most of his career. Recently, he made his law office in Kalispell, practicing alongside Glen Neier and Mies Faerber. True to his nature, he was always ready for a "good legal fight" and was passionate about bringing justice to those who had been wronged.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Erma; and an infant brother, William.
He is survived by his two sons, Gunnar Rocksund and Tait Rocksund, both of Kalispell; his father, William Rocksund and his wife, Marcia, of Columbia Falls; three sisters, Christine Rupp and husband, Bob, Jillene Sigler and husband, Kurt, and Carrie Stringer and husband, Shannon; also one brother, Norman Rocksund and wife, Debbie; three nieces, Haley Sigler, Serena Rocksund, and Breanna Rocksund; and four nephews, Talen Stringer, Nathan Sigler, Rich Torgison, and Mike Torgison.
Memorial services for Erik Rocksund will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Lawrence Park in Kalispell.
The family suggests memorials be made to Hospice, Home Health Options, 175 Commons Loop, Ste. 100, Kalispell, MT or the American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Rd, Ste. 105, Missoula, MT 59808.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Erik's family.