View Livestream Here

Elsie’s Funeral Service will be held at the Croxford Funeral Home, 1307 Central Avenue Great Falls, on Friday, July 14th, at 11am with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery. A reception for Elsie’s family and friends will be held at the Town Square of the Grandview at Benefis, 3015 18th Avenue South, following the burial.

Our loving mom and grandma, Elsie Elizabeth (Dalry) Chamberlain, was born March 18, 1925 to English immigrants Alfred Joseph and Annie Isobel (Clary) Dalry, joining her older brothers Frank and Norman in their home on 10th Avenue Southwest, on the Sun River in Great Falls, MT. She attended the Franklin School through the 8th grade and graduated with the class of 1943 from Great Falls High School. Her father bought her first car, a Model A Ford. She began her work career at The Paris, one of the premier department stores of the time. She then worked at the 7th Ferrying Command on Gore Hill where, from 1942-1944, the pilots of WWII would ferry airplanes to Alaska for turnover to the Soviets for use against Germany. She later worked at the East Base, now known as Malmstrom Air Force Base. Her role as a Professional Secretary at the Montana Oil Journal would forever change her life. It was there she met the love of her life, our father, Virgil Ralph Chamberlain, an eligible bachelor and Geological Engineer and Geologist, 9 years her senior. Dad whisked her off her feet: first date July 23, 1949, engagement September 23, 1949 and marriage November 18, 1949 at the First United Methodist Church in Great Falls.

When their first child Sally Elizabeth was born, Elsie became a full-time mother, while also continuing to be our father’s secretary for his oil and gas consulting business. Soon Sue Anne arrived, followed by Virgil Ralph Jr (Bud), then the baby of the family, Cindy Lu. Elsie was a very loving and nurturing mother, but also gave her love to others when she volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, PTA volunteer and later PTA President, BlueBird and Campfire Girls Leader for all 3 girls, plus a Cub Scout Den Mother for Bud, all while also caring for her aging parents’ needs until their deaths in 1969 and1971. She then worked briefly for Travelers Insurance, enjoying her renewed role working outside the home. Since Dad worked out of town much of the time, Mom also filled many roles at home. Therefore, she looked forward to her date nights out with Dad when he came home from the oilfields. Sadly, our parents’ love story was cut short when dad died suddenly on April 3,1992, after 43 years of marriage.

Although mom never stopped missing our dad, she continued her membership in the Evergreen Chapter and later the Helen C Roberts Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, Red Hats Society and the Meadowlark Country Club. She also continued to run, and later walk, in the Fun Runs throughout the seasons of every year until age 88! Of course, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her greatest achievements.

After living in the same home for over 60 years, she resided at the Grandview for the past few months where she made new friendships with the residents and staff. She even celebrated the upcoming birth of her newest great granddaughter on June 24 at a baby shower in the Grandview’s Town Square. She passed away Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the age of 92.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, our loving father, her two older brothers, Frank and Norman, along with their wives Connie and Evelyn, plus Norman and Ev’s daughter Anne Marie; Virg’s three sisters, Helen (Roland) Lapee, Maurine (Arthur) Malmburg, and Vivian Brand. She is survived by brother-in-law Bob Brand, her daughter Sally McClurg; granddaughters, Liz McClurg (Don Boles) and great granddaughter Ashley Sinclair, Amanda McClurg (Todd Meagher) and great grandson, Con Meagher; daughter, Sue (Ed) Warren; granddaughter, Rachel (Casey) O’Neill; great granddaughter, Addie, and great grandson, Tate O’Neill; grandson, Adam (Adrianna Potts) Warren; son, Bud (Debbie) Chamberlain, granddaughter, Heather Krippner (Ken Salinas), great grandson, Colman and great granddaughter, Lindsay Krippner; grandson Chad (Amanda) Chamberlain and great grandsons, Austin and Mason Chamberlain, grandson, Chris Chamberlain; daughter, Cindy (Rick) Morrison, granddaughter Sara (Cory) Janson, great granddaughters, Emma and Hanna and great grandson, Tanner Janson; granddaughter Jennie (Rob) Overton and soon to be great granddaughter, Olivia Overton; and Katy (Matt) Karels, and great granddaughter, Rikki Karels.

We all love you and will miss you dearly Mom/Grandma Cham! You're the BEST!

Memorials may be made to Grandview General Fund at Benefis Health System Foundation or to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

 Service Information