American missionaries Gustaf Rheingold Erickson and his wife, Ruth Erickson set sail for China in October 1939 to serve the Evangelical Free Church in Canton (Guangzhou) and Hong Kong. At the end of October 1940, they were residing in Cheung Chau, House No. 4 awaiting the birth of their child. Daughter, Dorothy Ann was born on 24 November 1940.
The family was present in Hong Kong during its capitulation in December 1941 and later interned in Stanley Camp. They were repatriated with other Americans in 1942.
Gustaf Erickson would return to South China with a fellow missionary in 1947.
Source
1. https://www.chinafamilies.net/internees/7885-erickson-gustaf-rheingold/
2. Evangelical Beacon (weekly issue) : https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/tiu_beacon/search/searchterm/erickson/page/21
Comments
The Tale of Two Rugs
[02/Apr/2026]
In her book, The Tale of Two Rugs, Annie Lindquist mentions how encouraged the Lindquists were at the arrival of the Ericksons in November 1939 to help in the work in Canton. Two missionary families had gone back to the States leaving just the Lindquists and two others. They themselves had had to return to the States in 1935 for the sake of Annie's health, so they were delighted when the Ericksons appeared. With them also was a young Ruth Rodine and her husband.
We know the Ericksons occupied House 4 on Cheung Chau. Where Ruth and her husband lived is not known.
They started on two years language training on Cheung Chau at the language school (Assembly Hall?), and so were caught when the Japanese invaded. The Lindquists were on furlough in the USA and so were not captured.