Sonja Marie (Seastedt) Ricker, 77, of Miller Road in Fredonia, born on July 22, 1948 in Jamestown to Kenneth W. and Lois (Lees) Seastedt, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026 after a long battle with cancer.
She graduated from Jamestown High School with the Class of 1966 and worked as a teacher's aide at the BOCES LoGuidice Center for 30 years and retired in 2012. She influenced many young children who passed through her classes. She loved children.
Sonja enjoyed knitting and crocheting and took pride in making her grandchildren and friends handmade presents. Over the years, she has donated many handmade items to charities and fundraisers. Sonja enjoyed watching the Detroit Tigers and NASCAR on TV, and loved college sports. She liked car shows and old cars in general, and growing plants and flowers. She hated to see things die or be cut down. She also liked to watch birds at the birdfeeders. Sonja was a lifelong animal lover and enjoyed the many adventures she and Dale went on together.
Memberships included the New York State Retired Educators Association, and she was a former member of the Dunkirk Moose Lodge and American Legion Auxiliary.
Sonja was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, George Seastedt. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Dale Ricker, whom she married on May 10, 1969; her son, Kenneth (Rhonda) Ricker of Lakewood; her daughter, Vicki Ricker of Fredonia; grandchildren Ashley, Calvin, Kira and Annika Ricker; a sister, Rebecca Edwards of Olean; and several nieces and nephews.
At Sonja's request, funeral services will be held in private, and there will be no visitation. Interment will be held privately in Forest Hill Cemetery in Fredonia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital, 2900 North Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607; St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or an animal shelter of your choice.
Arrangements by R. Michael Mackowiak III; R. Mackowiak Funeral Home, Inc., 56 East Doughty Street in Dunkirk.
