Ronald LeRoy Chase, born February 27, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah to LeRoy Abner Chase and Clara Theblom Carlson, quietly slipped away on February 1, 2022, at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ron graduated from East High (Class of ’53) in Salt Lake City, served a Mission in Mexico, and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah.
Ron and Nadine Eldredge were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 14, 1959.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Shirley (John) Hughey. He is survived by his wife Nadine, and four children: daughters, Ronda (Stephen) Dowden and Janine (Dennis) Russell, and his sons Brent (Valeria) Chase and Kenneth (Lindsay) Chase. Twelve Grandchildren; Lindsay (Chad) Eddy, Chase (Jayci) Dowden, Jenna (Ryan) Moser, Janique Suazo, Griffin Russell, Sarah Chase, Amber (Parker) Summers, Spencer (Haylee) Chase, Madeline (Riley) Priest, Jayde Chase, Maximilian (Max) Chase, and Tyler Chase. Eleven Great Grandchildren; Grace Eddy, Gaven Eddy, Gage Eddy, Briggs Dowden, Hattie Dowden, Olivia Dowden, Stockton Moser, Lily Moser, Alexandra (Alex McDaniel and Averi Priest.
Ron was a kind, gentle man who loved to read, learn, and travel. He enjoyed a very diverse mixture of music, and always wanted the newest technology gadget in his hands. Ron was a kind, gentle man who loved to read—especially books about the latest discoveries in space, physics, and engineering coupled with a passion for history and other cultures. Ron loved learning new things, having the latest technological gadget, and traveling to new places. When he was younger, he loved taking his kids' camping. Canyonlands in Moab was a favorite spot, and on one trip we learned from our parents’ friend, Lynn Stevens, that when you grab a lizard by its tail and the tail falls off between your fingers, it wiggles back-and-forth and makes a really good automatic toothpick. Lynn could make our dad chuckle like no other. Like his father before him, Ron felt the happiest when he was in nature, camping, fishing, boating, skiing—he loved skiing the most.
Ron was an avid lover of music and had eclectic tastes, from the Beatles to The Eagles, to Cream to Billy Joel, to Abba and INXS (which he adorably pronounced as “inks”) He liked having the newest car to lease every few years and always enjoyed taking road trips, but one of his favorite trips was to New York City where he got to see Central Park during autumn when all the trees were ablaze in colors.
He also had a romance with Mexico, the Mexican people, and their culture after serving there on a mission and would regale his children with slides and stories every chance he got there for a while. He was the cool Dad, with the bright yellow, convertible mustang until he traded it in for a station wagon so he could take his family to the drive-in movies—a favorite activity for Family Night in the summers for several years. He’d read us a few scriptures before “the show” would start, which would always be a wild ride with the likes of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; the robots of Westworld and Stepford Wives; the Omega Man, Dirty Harry, and the planet filled with apes. (The 70s were a great decade for movies). And now, for a brief intermission, imagine the drive-in cartoon of the dancing soda cup, which always cracked my Dad up, reading this poem: Daddy, when I was small, I thought you were the best Dad; when I grew tall, I KNEW you were the best —the best Dad of all.
He came a long way from his university days when he and his brothers shot empty beer cans out of the cannon in front of their frat house. Thank you, Ron Chase, for sharing your easy smile and those flashing blue eyes that belied your sparkling intellect. We love ya Dad, husband, and good brother that you were. Rest easy good man. The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at Aspire Home Health and Hospice who showed professionalism, expertise and sincere interest, and loving care for Dad. True angels on earth.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 1:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel on 4315 S 1100 E Salt Lake City, UT 84124. Interment to follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Road Sandy, UT 84092.