Marvin Chamberlain
February 22, 1936 - November 10, 2022
Obituary
Marvin Duane Chamberlain, age 86, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of November 10, 2022.
Marvin was born on 2/22/1936 to Lyle and Martha “Babe” (Parker) Chamberlain in Manning, Iowa. He was raised with his brother and sister on a ranch 11 miles west of White River, South Dakota. He was on the high school basketball championship team in 1955. He attended the University of South Dakota and met his first wife, Joan, while he was at USD, and she was at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City. They were married on 6/3/59 and lived in Sioux City for a short time before moving to White River. They had 8 children.
Marvin enjoyed being part of the community and served on the school board for several years. He refereed football, basketball, and volleyball, and was recognized by the South Dakota High School Athletic Association for his long-term commitment to volleyball refereeing. Marvin loved sports of all kinds and played basketball at the University of South Dakota until a leg fracture during a horse-riding accident ended his career.
Marvin was a rancher through and through, stating that when he was working as an accountant he could envision the calves, and fouls leaping and playing out in the fields. He loved to be outside, on his horse or in his tractor or traveling the country on his motorcycle with his wife Lydia.
He lost his first wife, Joan, in 1999, and was lucky to find love a second time with his wife, Lydia. They married in 2005. Marvin and Lydia lived in White River, Custer, and eventually moved to Billings, Montana to be closer to Lydia's family. Lydia and her family lovingly cared for Marvin in his last years and her family took him in as their own.
Survivors include three daughters: Amy (Charles Phillips) Koehn, Sue (Greg) Klein, Ellen (Bruce) Pengra; five sons: Tom (Carla) Chamberlain, Pat (Karla) Chamberlain, Paul (Margaret) Chamberlain, Jerry (Laura) Chamberlain, and Mark (Jennifer) Chamberlain; brother, Jim (Donna) Chamberlain; sister, Verna Butterfield; step-children: Tim (Cheli) Castro, Victoria Castro, Florence (Mike) Orndorff, Benito (Lisa) Castro, Angela (Mitch) Byrd, Patrick Castro; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Joan, and his grandson, Austin Klein.
There will be a Vigil at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings, Montana on Friday, November 18, 2022, at 6:30 PM. Visitation will be on Monday, November 21, 2022 from 9:00-10:00 AM at Community Events Center, 501 E 3rd Street in White River, South Dakota. Funeral Mass begins at 10:00 AM, with a reception to follow. Following the reception, Rite of Committal will be at Winner City Cemetery, Winner, South Dakota.