Obituary: Ericksen, Anna Mae

ERICKSEN, Anna Mae
(Age 96)

Anna Mae Ericksen died March 5, 2016 at the age of 96.

She was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Canada on November 1, 1919 to Eric and Evelyn Ericksen.

The family immigrated to Spokane, WA in the early 1930’s where her father worked for Sherry Flour Mills during the depression.

Anna Mae graduated from Rogers High School in 1939.

In May of 1940, Anna Mae and her sister Modell enrolled in the school of nursing at Deaconess Hospital, graduating in 1943.

In October 1943, Anna Mae was commissioned into the Army Nurse Corp as a 2nd Lieutenant and was stationed at Fort George Wright, Spokane.

Due to health problems related to rheumatoid arthritis, she was transferred to Kelly Field at San Antonio, TX where she cared for many returning wounded veterans.

She was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in December, 1944.

Anna Mae resided at Kelly Field until discharged in 1946.

Anna Mae returned to Spokane in 1947 and began a 40 year career at Deaconess Hospital.

She began as a staff nurse in the Emergency Room and was head nurse from 1948 to 1957.

From 1955 to 1957, she worked in collaboration with local physicians to establish the Spokane Poison Center at Deaconess which was also part of the Emergency Room responsibilities.

Under Anna Mae’s leadership, the Mr. Yuk poison center program started in 1975 in the greater Spokane area.

Thousands of pre-school children through adults received education about poison prevention.

This became a national program.

In the late 1970’s the Spokane Rotary Club honored Anna Mae by presenting her a personalized license reading “Mr.

Yuk.”

From 1957- 1970, Anna Mae was the Supervisor of the Emergency Outpatient department and Poison Information Center.

In 1970 she became the Assistant Director of these departments.

Anna Mae was always passionate about finding and sharing ideas at the community level as well as state level for ongoing improvement in nursing care.

In 1984 she organized the first Rural Nurse Conference and in 1989 founded the Rural Nurse Organization that provided education, networking, and leadership experiences for nurses in rural areas.

She was also involved in the Rural Outreach program that provided education to physicians and other healthcare providers in rural communities.

Through these programs she positively impacted rural health needs in communities in eastern Washington, northeastern, Oregon, northern Idaho and western Montana.

Anna Mae was a leader in Emergency Medical Care helping to organize the Emergency Department Nurses Association in the late 1960’s.

She was the founder of the Inland Empire EDNA (Emergency Department Nurses Association).

During the 1970’s she held several national offices including president in 1975.

In 1975, she was one of 26 people to speak at the White House regarding Emergency Medical Services issues.

In 1999, Anna Mae was the recipient of the Hall of Fame Award from the National Emergency Nurses Association.

She also served as a committee member for 20 years on the East Regional Medical Services and Trauma Council.

She also worked with outlying Fire Departments to develop training for EMT’s and paramedics.

At the time of her retirement in 1987, Anna Mae was the Director of the Regional Outreach Program, Director of the Spokane Poison Information Center and served as the Liaison with the Physicians.

The Spokane City Council proclaimed December 28, 1987 as Anna Mae Ericksen Day.
Anna Mae was the recipient of the Clara Barton Honor Award from the Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross and in 1991, the Ann Magnuson Award from the American Red Cross, the highest honor for volunteer nursing.

In addition to receiving numerous awards and honors, both the Washington Emergency Nurses Association and the Rural Nurse Organization now present an annual Anna Mae Ericksen award to recognize excellence in emergency nursing and rural nursing, respectively.

Of course, Anna Mae was the first recipient of both awards.
She was an active member of the Inland Empire Nurses Association, Washington State Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association.

She was inducted into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame in 2010.

She was involved in the Alumni Association of the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing and served as president for several years.

She was the co-chair for the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing Historical Wall which showed the history of the 80 years of the School of Nursing.
Among her many honors she was Who’s Who in American Nursing, 1985; Great Citizen of Spokane, 1988; outstanding Lady of the Year for Spokane, 1972; and Who’s Who in Medicine and Nursing, 2000.
Anna Mae was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Patrick, Keith, and Russell; and sister Modell Ericksen Radford.
She is survived by brother Ken as well as nephews David Radford, Eric Ericksen, and Chris Radford and nieces Kathleen Corrick and Sue Newton.
Visitation will be held at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home, 1306 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA, Wednesday, March 9, 2016, 1-5 PM.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 10, 2016, 10 AM, also at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home.

Interment will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Red Cross.