Erika Regensburger died in Helena, MT on September 16, 2026. Erika was born in Bohemia on the border of Czechoslovakia (at the time) and Germany. After WWII her family was displaced and relocated to a small town near Nurnberg. At age 13 she met her future husband when she worked as a nanny for a family. At age 19, not knowing either English or French, she emigrated to Canada following her sister and brother-in-law near Montreal. After deciding never to return to Germany, her future husband gave up his legal studies and Olympic aspirations to join her in Canada. They were soon wed and had the first of three children, a girl and then two boys. They eventually emigrated to the United States and lived in several locations along the east coast until eventually settling down in Stony Brook, NY. They lived there for the next 40 years and raised their family. 

Erika was an incredibly skillful and prolific seamstress, knitter, wool-spinner and quilter. She created countless beautiful sweaters, shawls, afghans, felt hats, dresses, costumes and quilts. She learned how to dye the wool she spun using both natural and commercial dyes. Erika shared those skills during her career with Sears and colonial-life exhibitions on Long Island, NY. She was also a fabulous cook making family favorite german meals including Zwetschgenknodel, Schweinebraten and Sauerbraten. After her children were grown and successful in their own lives Erika took up hiking. Her first big hike was to the top of Mt. Washington with her son, Herb. She joined the local hiking club and enjoyed numerous group hikes including a 30 mile hike across Long Island. When her husband died in 2003, Erika packed up and moved out to Montana, to get away from the crowds in the east coast, and back to a more rural area like where she grew up. It was also in close proximity to her son who had moved to Helena years earlier. Erika, her son and his family enjoyed many adventures in and around Montana hiking and snowshoeing to many beautiful spots, seeing lots of wildlife - including bears. Erika also traveled regularly back east to visit her two other children and their families.

Erika was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Wilhelmina, her sister Edith, and her husband Werner. She is survived by her three children Joan (Sandy), Herb (Anne) and Eric (Jolie).