Ching Hsia (aka Sue) Chuang (nee Hsieh), of Helena, MT died peacefully at Touchmark on August 7, 2024. She was 91 years old.

Sue was born on January 18, 1933 in Changhua, Taiwan to Zong and Jian Zi Hsieh. She was one of eight kids, four boys and four girls. Sue idolized her father and thought he was tall and handsome, and above all, a snappy dresser. Taiwan was part of Imperial Japan until 1945 when Sue turned 12 years old. She grew up in a rural agrarian community, and mostly while Japan was at war, with ambitions for expanding its empire. Living conditions were difficult, with basics such as: food, clean water, and medicine often scarce. She recounted incredible stories of life while growing up, including Japanese soldiers conducting inspections to appropriate food for their comrades at the front lines, and having to hide in air raid shelters when her village was bombed.

Sue relocated to Taipei, Taiwan in the early 1950's to attend a fashion institute, an alternative "finishing school." Sue married her husband, King Chih Chuang, of 55 years on December 6, 1958 in Taipei, Taiwan. They had two sons, Dai Alex Chuang, born in 1959, and Yueh Chuang, born in 1961. Because of King's work, Sue lived in Libya for more than six years from 1965 to 1972, before immigrating to the U.S. She came to enjoy New York over time, but initially had doubts when she first landed in JFK Airport during a snow storm in January 1972. She had the opportunity to visit several countries located along the Mediterranean Sea while in Libya, and frequently visited Taiwan once she settled in the U.S. Sue became a naturalized U.S. citizen in August 1980. She retired to Southern California (San Diego, then Orange County), before moving to Helena, MT, in order to be close to her son, Yueh Chuang, and his wife when her husband passed.

Sue had a successful career in NYC's fashion industry. She worked for Ralph Lauren's Womenswear for almost two decades. With a flare for fashion design and exceptional talent for sewing, she was a lead dressmaker responsible for sewing original outfits for celebrities and runway models to wear. She counted as career highlights: sewing for Nancy Reagan her second inaugural ball gown, and helping backstage with fitting renowned models before they walk the runways during twice yearly high-stake fashion shows.

Sue's native tongue was Hokkien (local Taiwanese dialect), but also had to learn Japanese and Mandarin Chinese while growing up, and eventually English when she moved to the U.S. It was not until she moved to Helena, MT in 2015, at the age of 82, before she had to speak English on a regular basis.

Sue was fiercely independent, strong-willed, and tended to speak her mind. She was also gregarious, generous with family and friends, and always ready to greet everyone with a smile. Her sons often joked that she will "talk your ears off." Sue was not only a talented seamstress, she was an excellent cook, and like many chefs she would whip up culinary delights without any recipes. She would delight her guests with: sweet-n-sour (infused with garlic) pork, miso paste-encrusted baked salmon, pork-n-chives fried dumplings, wok stir-fried cucumber salad, and many, many more delectable dishes.

Sue is survived by her son, Yueh Chuang (Sandra); her three grandchildren, Renee Chuang-Kragten (Blake), Isabel Chuang, and Justin Chuang; and her one great-grandchild, Torrey Kragten. She is preceded in death by her husband, King Chih Chuang of Tustin, CA; her son, Dai Alex Chuang of Mesa, AZ; her parents; and all four of her brothers and two of her sisters.

As Sue wishes, she will be cremated. An out-of-state service will be arranged at a later date. Should you be moved to do so, in her memory, please consider donating to either the Alzheimer's Association (EIN: 13-3039601), St. Peter's Health Hospice (EIN: 81-0233121), or your favorite charitable organization.

Simple Cremation Montana has assisted the family.