Erika D. Gruenberg

The service can be viewed by clicking on the following Live Stream link https://www.hbsound.com/erika

Erika Dawn (Olson) Gruenberg was born to Ardell and Karen (Sundquist) Olson on October 19, 1979 at McVille, North Dakota.  She spent her childhood years on a farm in the Sheyenne River Valley near Aneta, North Dakota. She was baptized at Norway Lutheran Church and confirmed at Sundahl Lutheran Church.   

A lifelong love of sports began at an early age starting with t-ball, ice skating, and swimming. Erika later participated in playing softball, volleyball, track, and basketball.  In high school at Edmore, North Dakota, in addition to sports, Erika took part in most of the small town high school activities offered such as playing the flute in the band and singing in the chorus.  She attended Northland Community and Technical College in East Grand Forks, Minnesota for medical transcription, and graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in Communications.

Erika married the love of her life Joshua Gruenberg on September 9, 2006 at Turtle River State Park, Arvilla, North Dakota.   They spent 16 years, to the day, together as a couple.  Erika and Joshua lived in Grand Forks, where they enjoyed spending time with their many friends.    

Erika worked at Nordian Health Care Solutions as a team leader Medicare fraud specialist.  She completed her work life outside the home as paraprofessional at Discovery Elementary. Erika loved working with the kids in the school up until mid-2019 when she joked that she “retired”. She was also a partner with her husband Joshua in PS Garage Doors, a company they purchased together in October 2018.

Erika’s love of sports and the outdoors were passed on to her sons Jake and Kale.  Her greatest joys in life were attending her boys’ sporting events, and simply spending time with family at home, or at the lake.  Erika will always be remembered for her strong spirit, quick wit, quirky sense of humor, determination, and passion.  She can be described as the ultimate sports mom who gave her all to attend her boy’s football, soccer, and hockey games, and as a true and loyal friend to many.  

Lives were changed forever when Erika entered heaven’s gates on April 9, 2020 following a hard fought battle against metastatic breast cancer.  She is survived by her husband Joshua; sons Jacob Grandstrand and Kale Gruenberg; father, Ardell Olson (Tina); mother, Karen Olson (Ove); sisters Andrea Olson and Adria Smith (Jason); brother, Cruz Olson; brother-in-law Justin Gruenberg (RaChelle), mother-in-law, Sheila Paul (Tim); brother-in-law, Rhett Paul (Whitney); grandmothers-in-law, Theresa Gruenberg and Grace Paul, niece, Chiara Olson and nephews Tristan and Kyan Olson, Beckett and Remy Smith, and Rekker and Chuckie Gruenberg.  Survivors also include numerous aunts and uncles, cousins, and many friends who were very special to her.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Alfred and Eleanor Olson; Arnold and MaryAnn Sundquist, grandfather-in-law Fred Gruenberg, and father-in-law Robert Gruenberg. A family service was held in her home on April 13, 2020.   

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the Altru Cancer Clinic and Altru Hospice staffs for their compassionate care, and to the many friends and family members that have supported them throughout this very difficult time.                                                               

A celebration of Erika’s life and sharing of memories for friends and family will be held at the Alerus Center, 1200 S 42nd Street, Grand Forks, North Dakota at 5:30 pm November 18, 2020. COVID precautions will be observed. Following the service, there will be a reception at PS Garage Offices, 4733 Demers Avenue. A private committal service will held at Silent Hill Cemetery, Aneta, North Dakota.  

The service can be viewed by clicking on the following Live Stream link https://www.hbsound.com/erika