Gayland Erikson

Gayland M Erikson was born on October 3, 1940, in Rexburg, Idaho, the second child of Robert Alexander Erikson and Elma McEntire Erikson. He was the second of six children and was welcomed by his older brother, Glen, and was later joined by Ted, Wayne, Roger, and Sandy.

He was raised in Rexburg where he attended local schools and graduated from Madison High School in 1958. During his school years, he was active in athletics and especially enjoyed playing church basketball, including participation in the “All Church Tournament” in Salt Lake City. Following graduation, Gayland attended Ricks College for two years and was later accepted to Pacific University in Oregon to pursue studies in optometry. In 1961, he postponed his education to accept a call to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Mission. His testimony of the gospel was deepened and strengthened through his missionary service and the experiences that accompanied it.

Upon returning home, he met Tamara Thompson at a friend’s birthday party. Their courtship was brief but certain, and they were married for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 6, 1963. They subsequently returned to Oregon, where Gayland completed his optometry training. Upon graduation, they established their home in Twin Falls, Idaho, where they opened an optometry practice. While residing there, they welcomed two sons into their family, Robert Gayland Erikson in 1968 and Scot T. Erikson in 1970.

In 1975, Gayland accepted a commission with the United States Public Health Service, and the family relocated to Arizona. They spent five years in the White Mountains of Arizona fulfilling this assignment, during which time he also served in two bishoprics and on the stake high council. In 1981, the family was transferred to the Phoenix Indian Medical Center and made their home in Mesa, Arizona, for the next twenty-four years.

Throughout these years, Gayland rendered devoted church service and served faithfully as bishop, temple ordinance worker, and stake executive secretary. In 2000, he retired with the rank of Captain with the United States Public Health Service, and in 2003, he returned to Rexburg, Idaho, to reside nearer to family. He served as an ordinance worker in the Idaho Falls Temple until the Rexburg Temple opened in 2008, after which he continued his service there until he and Tamara accepted a mission call to the Family and Church History Mission in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gayland and Tamara shared a love of travel and visited all fifty states, along with many countries, with a cruise to Russia and the Panama Canal among the journeys they especially cherished. Dad loved reading, golf, football in the fall and BYU sports.

Gayland passed away peacefully on Monday, June 1, following a valiant battle with aphasia and dementia in his final years.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife, Tamara; his brothers, Glen (Marjene) Erikson, Ted (Carol) Erikson, and Wayne (Kerry) Erikson, all of Rexburg; Roger (Kathy) Erikson of Rigby; and his sister, Sandy (Craig) Sabin of Gilbert, Arizona; his children, Rob (Shana) Erikson of Ammon and Scot (Mary) Erikson of Rigby; five grandchildren, Makenzie Woodward, Kyal (Gaby) Erikson, Makynlie (Nathan) Byram, Cameron Erikson, and Dallin (Haley) Erikson; and four great-grandchildren, Savana, Hailey, and Finn Woodward, and Banks Byram.

He will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his faithful service, and the steady example he provided throughout his life.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00 to 10:45 prior to the services. Interment will follow in the Rexburg Cemetery.