Steven Erickson, 47, West Lafayette, died Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m. in St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

He was born May 13, 1949 to John Paul and Gloria Thompson Erickson, in Lafayette. He was married Aug. 11, 1973, to Ginger Altman, in Monticello, and she survives.

He was a 1967 graduate of Frontier High School. He received his B.S. in 1971 and his M.S. in 1973 from Purdue. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural marketing in 1976 from the University of Illinois.

He was a professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue and had served as Assistant Department Head since 1994.

He authored and co-authored several textbooks in agribusiness management as well as book chapters, workbooks and over 150 articles for other academic and professional publications.

He had received many awards and honors, including: the Outstanding Agriculturalist Award in 1976, from Illinois State University; Best Teacher, Purdue Department of Agricultural Economics in 1979; Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher in. 1983 from the Purdue School of Agriculture, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Outstanding Purdue School of Agriculture Teacher in 1979 and 1984; American Agricultural Economics Association Outstanding Teacher Award in 1992; Outstanding Counselor, Purdue School of Agriculture in 1993; and the Charles A. Murphy Award as Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher at Purdue in 1995.

Surviving are two daughters, Abbie and Cassie Erickson of West Lafayette; a sister, Lana Little, Brookston; a brother, John F. Erickson, Brookston; his parents and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were at 3 p.m., Sunday at the West Lafayette Federated Church with the Rev. Dr. Lelan McReynolds officiating.

Burial was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Brookston.

Memorials may be given to the Steven P. Erickson Scholarship Fund for Frontier High School and West Lafayette High School and the Purdue Agricultural Economics Teaching Enhancement Fund.