The convenience store industry mourned one of its own recently, when Claire Erickson, 83, founder of the 60-unit Freedom Valu Centers convenience chain, and his wife Betty, 81, were found dead in their Hudson, Wis., home March 24. The couple had recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Well-known in the convenience industry, Claire was a "fair, strong leader," who was hardworking, had strong family values and was "a genuine caring person," Gary Vander Vorst, executive vice president and CFO of Freedom Valu, who worked with Claire for 35 years, told Convenience Store News.

"Claire had an exceptional business acumen and was committed to the business and the associates," he said, adding his commitment stretched to the family business' core values of honesty trust and family. "Claire was very, very committed to his family. There was nothing more important to him."

The Erickson's daughter, Mimi Kron, and her husband Jim, found the couple in their bed, wearing pajamas and appearing to be asleep. Police who investigated the couple's death called it a murder-suicide, but declined to provide more details.

David Erickson, son of Claire and Betty, and president of the company, said his father hadn't been feeling well and worried his wife would have to live in a nursing home if anything happened to him. Betty was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but it had not progressed to being severe.

"We still can't quite comprehend or believe it," said David Erickson of his parents' deaths. "But we'll get through it. Our family's pretty strong."