Gail Lee Anderson Erichsen
Gail Lee Anderson Erichsen passed away peacefully in her sleep during the morning hours of June 30, 2026. It gives our family so much peace knowing she left this earthly existence the way she wanted.
Other than the limitations of old age and the frailties of the body, she remained her fun loving self in her mind and spirit, until the end. She was born in Murray, Utah on January 28, 1939. Her father delivered her on a night of “gale force winds,” hence the name “Gail.”
Her parents were Leland and Barbara Anderson. She grew up in a loving home and had a fun childhood alongside her sisters. With her cousins and grandparents as neighbors on 4500 S. 500 West, before and as the freeway was being built. Many fond memories began at that location.
She attended Murray High School. It was around this time she met Ewald Erichsen. He recently arrived from Hamburg, Germany to begin a new life in Murray, Utah with his family. My dad was 20. The first time they met my mom was walking home from school.
My dad pulled up in his red “55” Chevy and said, “hey baby want a ride?” She looked at him and said, “No!” He took off laughing. Probably shouldn’t have called her “baby.” Not long after, during sacrament her Bishop welcomed the “Erichsen Family” to the ward. My mom looked over and it was my dad’s family.
She was surprised. Three months after she graduated from Murray High School they were married on September 27, 1957. They ended up buying a house in Midvale on Glovers Lane and lived there for the next 30-plus years raising their three children. Lee, Heidi, and Lisa. So many memories were made in that house. Good times and bad. Then they moved to Delta for 4 years, then Sterling and finally Manti for 28 years.
My parents later solemnized their marriage in the Manti Temple on March 5, 2005. My mom truly was the foundation of our family. My mom had a strength about her that held everyone together.
My parents created a home filled with unconditional love that always felt safe. My mom’s guidance was our anchor, and her heart was a constant place of comfort for everyone who knew her. Both my parents were equally caring and loving people.
Mom was inquisitive and loved learning about history and genealogy. Genealogy became her passion. She was fascinated to learn about her loved ones that came before her. She would talk about them in a way that brought them to life.
She loved going to the movies, especially Bruce Lee ones. She also had a passion for the older movies. Gone With The Wind and Doris Day movies. Just ALL the old movies. She had a beautiful voice and loved singing to her favorite music, especially “The Carpenters” and of course she loved Elvis!
My mom was always positive, she loved to laugh and have fun, and boy was she a talker!
When my sister unexpectedly passed away Dec 2010 it broke my mom’s heart. Then my dad passed away in July 2015. He had dementia and died in her arms.
The last two years her health declined more and more, she was in and out of the hospital 4 or 5 times. She lived with my brother, he took care of her, we all pitched in, (Lisa, Brittany, Deziree).
She always remained upbeat and positive and fun to be around but you could tell it was getting harder and harder for her. For the past six months she just wanted to go to sleep and wake up to my dad picking her up. We have quite a few family members on the other side. It gives us joy to know that she is with everyone and no longer limited by her earthly body.
She is survived by her children Lee Erichsen, Manti, Lisa (Ren) Petersen, Ephraim, grandchildren Brittany Zitting, Manti, Michael Zitting, Provo, Deziree (Jeff) Jensen, Ephraim, Raine Petersen, Lott Petersen and girlfriend Gracee Fonville, Salem, great grandchildren, Gage (Hali) Devers, Boise ID Tyson Devers, Manti, Leif Jensen, Sawyer Zitting, Ada Jensen. Great great grandchildren Atreus. Sister Leslie R. Anderson Caligiuri Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ewald, daughter Heidi, Bonnie Jean Anderson Borg, Vicki Lynn Anderson Ortez Cobos, parents, nieces and nephews.