Monte Chase

Monte D. Chase, 67, of Mandan, ND, passed away peacefully in CHI Hospital, Bismarck, on June 23, 2026, after a prolonged illness.

Born on March 11, 1959, in Beach, ND Monte was the son of Monroe Chase and Annette (Lozensky) Krinke. Monte attended grade school in Mandan and Bismarck, graduated from Bismarck High School in 1977, and went on to complete the Building Trade Program at Bismarck Junior College.

In 1980, Monte married Lori Torstad and moved to Auburn, WA where Monte worked for his uncle’s construction company. It was during this time their son, Nathan, was born.

Monte was raised around his father and uncle’s aviation business since he was a young child, so airplanes and aviation were an integral part of his being. In 1985, he moved back to Mandan to join his father’s business, Midwest Air Center, a fixed base operation at the Mandan Municipal Airport.

In 1986, Monte met Grace (Henrikson) Silbernagel and her children Scott, Christopher, and Rebecca. Monte and Grace were married on Wednesday, March 11, 1987, creating a blended family. Who gets married on a Wednesday?? Someone who never wants to forget his anniversary.

In 1992, Monte struck out on his own and started a successful construction, contracting, and woodworking business. He spent many years building and creating unique projects, until he found a way to blend his love for aviation and his carpentry talents. Tucked away in Monte’s workshop is his massive 100+ wooden propeller collection from over 30 propeller manufacturers spanning the 1920’s to 1940’s that he painstakingly restored to museum-quality condition. He created a website to showcase the propellers and became a go-to expert in the general aviation community across the country. We hope there’s a giant hangar in heaven for him where he can be in peace and happiness with all the propellers he could ever have.

Because of his deep voice and large stature, when people first met Monte they were usually a little intimidated. However, his friends learned that he was always willing to lend his help, and he formed lasting relationships rooted in trust, loyalty, humor, and genuine care.

Monte and Grace lived in the same home in Mandan for nearly 40 years and built a life around their family, dogs, work, and multiple never-ending home remodeling projects with a mutual agreement that Monte would never have to help with laundry if he’d just remodel the laundry room, an arrangement that Monte never regretted.

Monte is survived by his wife, Grace; children, Nathan (Michelle), Scott (Angelia), and Rebecca Silbernagel-Rouse (Adam); grandchildren, Jordyn (Derek) Chase, Lilly Chase, Alexander Kuhn, and Rosalind, Merrik, and Oberon Rouse; and great-grandaughter, Frances Chase. He is also survived by his sister, Cindy (Steve) Heupel; sister-in-law, Marlys (Richard) Readel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Monte was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Chase and sister, Monica Chase.

Memorial services will take place on Monday, July 6th at 1:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 408 9th St NW, Mandan, ND. Private burial will be in Mandan Union Cemetery.