Elizabeth Chase

Elizabeth Rice Chase, known to all as Betsy, a famous lover of all dogs, dachshunds in particular, passed away October 4, 2013 at the Railside Living Center in Byron Center, Michigan at age 92. Betsy was born to loving parents on Staten Island in New York on June 6 1921. She and her sister, Kay especially enjoyed family trips to Coney Island and an annual canoeing vacation in upstate New York. Betsy loved New York City and riding the Staten Island ferry into Manhattan was a great treat for her. She aspired to be a tug boat captain, and was awed by the skill required to manuever the boats using the whistles and horns before the days of radio. She related that before the days of thrown away tires, the tug boat bumpers were big sponges from the sea which glistened beautifully in the sunshine. A favorite childhood memory was watching the construction of the Empire State Building with her mom and sister. In later years, Betsy earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from Hood College. She married Herbert L Chase before World War II and after Pearl Harbor Herb wanted to join the U.S Marines. At that time, married men were not allowed to join without a waiver signed by their spouse. Betsy agreed to Herb serving and signed that waiver. Herb was a member of the First Marine Division and served gallantly in the South Pacific, on Guadalcanal and other islands. When the First Marine Division came home, Herb was part of the honor guard for the funeral of President Franklin Roosevelt. After the war, Betsy told how because she and Herb could not afford their own pet, they would travel by bus to a friends home in the District of Columbia, and borrow their dachshund to take for walks. Later, they were able to add dachshunds to their family, a loving series of best friends to them both. Betsy had a long career working for Capital and United airlines and was much respected for her orginizational skills and competence. Herb passed away in 1976 and Betsy was widowed for 21 years, before she met Ernest Clemo at a Capital Airlines retirees picnic in the summer of 1996. Ernie, who had been a widow for 16 years, was swept off his feet, and related how their first long distance phone call lasted for six hours. They were married in February of 1997 . Betsy often told that her dachshund, Poupon's, first reaction to meeting Ernie was so positive that it helped her decide to marry Ernie. Ernie and Poupon passed away in March 2005 and Betsy moved to the Railside Living Center in 2009. At Railside, she recieved loving care from the staff and was blessed to have loyal friends who visited frequently and brought their four legged family members for betsy to enjoy. Many thanks go the staff at Railside and Odyssey Hospice for their loving care of Betsy . In keeping with her love of travel, Betsy's cremated remains will be going many places, to Hawaii, the only place she said she would live besides Michigan, to the Cold Harbor National Cemetery and various other cemeteries, pet and human around the country. Betsy was truly a one of a kind lady and she will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of making her acquaintance. Betsy was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Elizabeth Chase please visit our Sympathy Store.