Diane M. Chase, age 56, of Grand Rapids, MN passed away peacefully Saturday, July 11, 2026 at Essentia St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.

Diane Marie Chase was born September 24, 1969 in Grand Rapids, the daughter of Carol Jean (Berg) and Walter Rodger Chase.  Diane grew up in Grand Rapids and is a Grand Rapids High School graduate.  She continued her education at Itasca Community College and Bemidji State University.  Following her education, she moved back to Grand Rapids and began helping individual families take care of their children in their home environment.  She had the great privilege of assisting four families with childcare.

As a young girl, Diane was an active Girl Scout; always volunteering her dad to be a driver when needed for the troop.  As a Girl Scout, Diane worked diligently to earn a skill building badge where she organized a Curling Outing for Special Needs Children in the area.  This activity became an annual event that continued on after Diane's Girl Scouting days.

Diane can be remembered as a woman with the most tender and giving heart.  It did not matter if she was assisting her parents with luncheon responsibilities at Zion Lutheran Church or helping to give special attention to some of the residents, especially to Jerry Steele and his friends at The Emeralds Care Center.  Caring for her mother by providing transportation, love, support and all the responsibilities at home was something she took great pride in doing.

She will be deeply missed by her mother, Carol Chase; her fiancé, Jerry Steele; aunts, Elizabeth (Craig) Birdseye and Kathy Smith; uncles, Jim (Teresa) Chase and Greg (Carlene) Chase; a very good friend, Joe Piskel; many cousins and friends. Diane is preceded in death by her father, Walter Rodger Chase in 2024 and her brothers, Steven Chase and Richard Chase.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Zion Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MN with a visitation beginning at 10:00 AM until the time of the service.  Sharron Lewis will officiate the service.  Interment will be in Northland Cemetery, rural Canyon, Minnesota.