Detour

Location: Colusa, CA 

 I have taken a slight detour and am on the west coast in Colusa, CA where I grew up and where my parents and brother live. My dad, Ervin Erdelt, passed away on Saturday after a very short struggle with cancer. He and my mother celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 2nd. They were RVing in South Dakota and headed to my dad's school reunion in North Dakota. They went up to Pierre for the night and had dinner out and then went back to my mother's family's farm in Wood, SD. Four days later, on his birthday, June 6th, he was outside filling the RV water tank. He didn't feel well and told mom that he thought they should go to the doctor so they went to the hospital in Winner. The doctors there drained some fluid off his lungs, did a biopsy and diagnosed him with lung cancer. He quit smoking back in 1971 and the doctors said that smoking was not the cause. After a couple weeks of recovery, the doctor told them that he was well enough to take the trailer back to Colusa, meet with his regular doctor and determine the type of treatment that would be best. So, they headed home through Nebraska and Wyoming. They made it to Rock Springs, WY. The high altitude and the smoke from the nearby forest fires got to dad and he went into the hospital there. Because they have been RVing for many years, and mom doesn't drive while the trailer is hooked up, they had insurance that would get them and the trailer home if a medical emergency occurred. They called the insurance company and were flown back to Colusa in a leer jet. They arrived here on July 4th and on July 7th the doctor here recommended that he be transferred to Enloe Hospital in Chico. Some additional tests were done and it was determined that there was really nothing they could do so we transferred him home into hospice care on the 12th. He was so happy to be home and relieved to be out of the hospital. He had a good afternoon that day, talking to my mom, my brother, me and his youngest brother, my uncle Max. We have been spending a lot of family time together since Saturday, telling stories, looking at photos and sharing memories. My dad's sister Alice and her husband Raymond were here on Saturday and Sunday to help us remember him. At his request, we are not having any services. He is being cremated and his ashes will be buried at the Veteran's Cemetery in Mandan, ND Here is the link to his obituary, http://www.mcnarymoorefuneralservice.com/obituaries/Ervin-V.-Erdelt2302060691/#/Obituary He was a wonderful husband, father and brother and was well liked and respected in the community. I'll gather up a few dad stories and some photos and will share them in the next post. 

Please, spend time and appreciate your family and friends. Tell them that you love them, give them a hug and forgive petty grudges. Life is too short.