By HDN Staff
CHERYL CHASE
HAYS Cheryl Ann Chase, whose Indian name was Pa-ha N Tha (Thunder Woman), 44, died Wednesday, March 7, 2001 in Phoenix, Ariz. from multiple injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Wake and rosary were held Saturday at St. Paul's Mission with burial in the St. Paul Mission Cemetery.
Chase was born Sept. 24, 1956 in Butte to Elijan Chase (Mandan) and Marie (Main) Chase (Gros Ventre). She was an enrolled member of the White Clay Clan (Gros Ventre) of Montana.
Her family moved to Glasgow when she was two and she went through school and graduated from high school there in 1974. In school, she was captain of the drill team and Wrestlette. She was active in sports and won two Presidential Awards for her athletic ability.
She moved to Gainesville, Fla. with her sister in 1977 and worked as a transcriptionist for an insurance firm. In 1979, she moved to Tucson, Ariz. to work for juvenile courts and the San Xavier Indian Health Service. She spent her IHS career of more than 20 years helping tribes, service units and area office staff by sharing her computer knowledge and mastery. She developed learning tools, such as the Pcc Series of computer application manuals.
Chase actively shared in her son's life, particularly camping at Mexico beaches, Boy Scout campouts, traveling coast-to-coast, ski trips, powwows and the Sundance. She was an active member of the Boys Scouts of America Order of the Arrow and an avid soccer mom.
Chase enjoyed the outdoors, the ocean, sailing, the Montana mountains, rollerblading, biking, hiking, and canoeing. She also enjoyed spending time with her aunts, uncles and the whole family, especially her parents.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elijan and Marie Chase; brothers, Kenneth Wayne Chase, Vernon James Chase and Richard Allen Chase.
Survivors include her son, Richard Elijah Grandbois-Chase of Tucson, Ariz.; sister, Janice Chase of Tucson; brother, Norman Michael Chase Sr. of Fort Belknap; numerous nieces, nephews and goddaughters.
Edwards Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
