On February 6, 2016, surrounded by her family, Jeraldine “Jeri” Chamberlain, beloved mother, aunt, grandma, and great-grandma, lost her 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 13, 2016, at 10:30 AM at United Methodist Church in Montevideo with Rev. Gwen Bohlke officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association or Copperleaf Senior Living in Willmar, MN.
Jeri Chamberlain was born February 3, 1926, in Beatrice, Nebraska to Virgil and Mayme (Cory) Butler. She attended public school with her sister Betty in Beatrice until the family moved to Mount Ayr, Iowa where she attended high school. Jeri graduated Salutatorian from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1943 and then attended Omaha University night school. During this time she worked for an insurance company until she reached the age of18, making her eligible for her civil service appointment, for which she had taken the test her last year of high school. She was hired by the Judge Advocate General’s Office in the Federal Building in Omaha, Nebraska, and qualified as an area court reporter. Along with other court reporters, she worked at court hearings in connection with Army activities. After the war was over, Jeri worked as a secretary at Northwestern Bell Business offices in Omaha. Her father, Virgil Butler, introduced her to Ted Chamberlain, who worked for him at the Iowa State Highway Commission in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They were married on March 31, 1951, at the First Methodist Church in Council Bluffs.
Ted and Jeri left Iowa to make their home in Montevideo, Minnesota, where Ted started his engineering business. They lived a couple of years at a duplex at 401 Canyon Ave. before building their new house on North 4th Street across from the new Ramsey grade school. They had four children: Lori, Alan, Sara and Carol. After the children were in school, Jeri worked part time in Ted’s office as the secretary for his engineering business. Jeri enjoyed Lydia/Dorcas Church circle and served as the secretary and chairman for many years. She was also an active member of United Methodist Women, where she held a special membership award. Jeri was a loyal member of TOPS #975 and later COPS. She enjoyed the neighborhood birthday and bridge clubs where she practiced two of her favorite past times, cooking and baking. Her other interests included oil painting, fishing, writing children stories, sewing, music, long walks, entertaining and spending time with family. Her family and friends will forever remember Jeri for her gift of laughter and her creative ways of making any occasion fun.
Jeri is survived by her children: Lori (Leo) Vadnais of Murdock, MN, Al Chamberlain (special friend Amy Rostad) of Edina, MN, Sara (Gregg) Wilking of Montevideo, MN and Dr. Carol (Donnie) Chamberlain-Smith of Arlington, Texas; seven grandchildren: Marie (Brandon) Navara, Chris Vadnais, Alec Chamberlain, Kaylee Chamberlain, Christine Schultz, Dr. Daniel Schultz, and Melissa (TJ) Upchurch; two great-grandchildren: Holden and Gabriella Navara and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jeri was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Mayme, her husband of 51 year in 2003, Ted Chamberlain, her sister Betty, her grandparents and other relatives and friends.