Eileen Schamber

Eileen Schamber, age 81, of Milbank, passed away on March 12, 2023, at Avantara-Milbank.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank. Rev. Chris Davis will officiate. Visitation will be held at Mundwiler Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 14, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and viewable below this obituary.

Eileen Janice Schamber was born on April 4, 1941, in Ortonville, MN. She was the daughter of Stanley and Helen (Hecht) Weeden. Eileen grew up in the Wilmot area and attended school in Wilmot.

Eileen met John Schamber at a Lutheran church camp near Custer, SD, in 1957. They wrote letters back and forth and eventually married on October 19, 1958, at Centennial Lutheran Church in Wilmot.

They moved to Rapid City, SD; and were blessed to start a family with the births of Linda and Charles. They returned to rural Wilmot in 1961 and farmed together for a few years. Their family grew with six more children: Donna, Richard, Neil, David, Brenda, and Kevin.

 They moved to Milbank, SD, in 1964 and have since resided. Eileen raised eight children and worked part time as a babysitter. She loved babies! Being a mother was the joy of her life. She also worked a variety of other jobs including at Milbank Insurance Company, Milbank Schools, United Hardware, and most recently at Dewey’s Lawn Care. Her love of baking and plants kept her very happy!

Christmas was her “special” holiday. She loved everything about Christmas, including decorating and hosting family and friends every year. She was known for her delicious Christmas punch. She was “famous” for her homemade donuts that were raised and glazed. She loved making them and enjoyed sharing them with her family. She also loved to make homemade buns. In her spare time, Eileen enjoyed putting puzzles together.

Eileen was a faithful member of Emanuel Lutheran Church. She loved serving at church for Bible classes and morning fellowship.

Eileen Schamber is survived by her husband, John of Milbank, SD; three daughters: Linda (Tom) Berens of Corona, SD; Donna (Bradley) Buttke of Corona, SD; Brenda (Mike) Nies of Milbank, SD; daughter-in-law, Ginger Schamber of Milbank, SD; four sons: Charles Schamber of Milbank, SD; Neil (Tammy) Schamber of Florence, SD; David Schamber of Milbank, SD; and Kevin (Emily) Schamber of Britton, SD; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one sister, Marilyn (Robert) Rethke of Milbank, SD; and one sister-in-law, Mary Weeden of Milbank, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Richard; sisters: Joyce Reese and Gladys Paulson; and brother, Glenn Weeden.