Our Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
At Erickson-Smith Funeral Home & Cremation Service, we are honored to have earned the trust and confidence placed in us by those that we serve. We pledge to offer respectful and dignified professional service, service that a family should expect, service that a family deserves. From the time the first phone call is received, throughout the service and beyond, each staff member at our funeral home contributes in an important way.
CHRIS CARLSON
Licensed Funeral Director
Chris comes from a funeral service background as well. He grew up and attended school in Page, North Dakota, where his father owned and operated the Lindsey-Carlson Funeral Home. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he worked at funeral homes in Starbuck and Morris, Minnesota. In 2004, Chris moved to Fergus Falls, and joined the staff at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home & Cremation Service and in 2006, joined the staff at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home.
Chris and his wife Brenda have two daughters and one son.
RICK MEKALSON
Licensed Funeral Director
Rick was born and raised in Battle Lake, Minnesota. He graduated from the Fergus Falls Community College and then the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. After graduating from the U of M he was employed with funeral homes in Virginia, Minnesota, as well as the Bertha area. In 1995, Rick joined the staff at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, and later at Erickson-Smith.
Rick attends the Battle Lake Alliance Church and is a member of the Battle Lake Lions Club. Rick and his wife Ann live on their farm by Battle Lake. They have three sons, seven grandsons. Rick enjoys horseback riding and camping.
LUKE JOHNSON
Licensed Funeral Director
DOUG NELSON
Licensed Funeral Director
Doug comes from a funeral service background, where both his grandfather and father were active in the business in Brooten, Minnesota. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Doug served his apprenticeship at the Hoplin Funeral Home in Glenwood.
Following his service in the United States Army, Doug moved to Fergus Falls where he worked as a licensed director at the Glende-Johnson Funeral Home. Doug eventually purchased the Funeral Home which he continues to manage today. In 2006, Doug began managing the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home.
Doug and his wife Virginia live in Fergus Falls and have two married daughters. Doug and his wife are active members of Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. He is also a member of the Otter Risers Kiwanis, the VFW and the Ashby American Legion.
Matt Pesek
Advance Funeral Planner
Matt grew up in Appleton, Minnesota. After graduating high school in 1996, Matt attended Fergus Falls Community and Technical College. He started his professional career in banking. He began in a call center and later advanced to becoming a banker and manager. He has worked in Fargo, Moorhead, the Twin Cities, and Wahpeton. Matt has always enjoyed assisting clients with their financial needs.
Matt and his wife, Jenny, live in Fergus Falls and have three children. They chose Fergus Falls to be closer to his in-laws who operated a dairy farm. Matt and his family enjoy spending time together and attending many activities within the community. They are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. Matt is also a member of the Fergus Falls Football Booster Club, Fergus Falls Youth Baseball Board, Town and Country Saddle Club, and Buse-Orwell 4-H.
Matt loves working with people and considers it an honor to serve the community as our Advance Funeral Planner.
DIANE GROUT
Office Manager
Diane joined the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake and Hoffman in the spring of 2014. She has been a resident of Elbow Lake since early childhood.
Diane and her husband Tom have 4 adult children, Geoffrey (Crystal), Dawn (Adam), Benjamin (Kelly), and Daniel (Courtney). Her children have blessed her with 5 beautiful grandchildren, whom she adores and loves to spend her time with.
Prior to working at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home, she was an at home daycare provider and worked for St. Olaf Catholic Church in Elbow Lake.
In her free time she enjoys gardening, crocheting, camping and listening to people share their stories. She considers it a privilege to be working for the people in the community.
DIANE KAPPHAHN
Support Staff