Erika W. (Becker) Chase Heeder

Lincoln - Erika Chase Heeder, of Lincoln, died Thursday, April 2, 2026, just ten days before her 98th birthday, at the Miriam Hospital, Providence. She was the wife of Charles J. Heeder and the former wife of the late Ralph W. Chase.

Born in Waldorf-Hessen, Germany, a daughter of the late Wilhelm and Katherine (Gumbert) Becker, she emigrated to the United States in 1949, settling in Lincoln.

Starting as bookkeeper for Chase & Butterfly Farms, she spent her career at Cooley, Inc. for 25 years, retiring as assistant treasurer in 1991.

"Oma's kitchen" was where she loved to be, showing the extent of her creativity, making exquisite cakes for every special family occasion, and always a delicious home-cooked meal, and most notably her German dishes and pastries. A tradition was set years ago when she began making zucchini omelets for her grandson, Ryan, who visited with her every Saturday. She also took considerable pride in her sewing skills, whether it was her own dresses, her daughter's, or costumes for her grandson, as well as handcrafts such as knitting. There was barely a minute she was not active. She enjoyed ballroom dancing, tending to her showstopping flower gardens and helping her husband with processing all the different produce from his vegetable gardens. They made many friends while dancing as members of Club Dominicana at St. Pius Church and enjoyed traveling on bus trips throughout the northeast as well as occasional trips back to Germany. She was also a proud member of the Hearthside House Museum.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by one daughter, Kathryn Hartley and her husband David, of Lincoln; one son Clayton E. Chase of Grass Valley, CA; three grandchildren, Ryan C. Hartley, Benjamin W. Chase and Tyler J. Chase; and two great grandsons, Clayton B. Chase and Jackson K. Chase. She was the brother of the late Wilhelm Becker.

Her funeral will be held Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM in Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln. Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours prior to the service from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to the Friends of Hearthside House, 757 Great Road, Lincoln, RI 02865 would be appreciated. For directions, or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com.

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