Richard Chase, 73, of Libby died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. 

He was born on August 13, 1938 at Ogden, Utah, the son of Arthur and Helen Cromwell. 

His father was killed in World War II, and his mother later married Earl E. Chase who legally adopted him.

Dick met his wife, Shirley, at Eastern Washington University.  They married March 2, 1959, in Deer Park, Wash. 

He attended Eastern Washington University and the University of Montana.  He joined the Montana Highway Patrol in 1965. 

He was stationed in Stanford, Choteau, and Libby, Mont., as he moved up the ranks.  He retired from the Montana Patrol as a captain stationed in Missoula in 1997 and moved back to Libby.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Chase, Libby; son Richard Chase, Jr. and wife, Lori, of Helena, Mont.; daughter, Barbara, Chase-McElmurry, Everett, Washington; brother Mike Chase and wife, Maria, Moses Lake, Wash.; grandchildren Tyler, Trever and Annie Chase, and Connor and Keaton McElmurry.

Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at the Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. 

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 at Christ Lutheran Church, 200 W. Larch Street in Libby. 

Memorials may be made to WINGS, St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation, Montana Hope Project, or Christ Lutheran Church.