Shannon M. Chamberlain, age 48, of Montana City

Shannon “Sissy” Zinda Chamberlain

On September 18, 2024, Shannon Marie Chamberlain passed away at St. Peter’s Hospital from Glioblastoma brain cancer. She was 48 years old. Shannon was born in Glendive, Montana on July 21, 1976. She was the first child of Jim and Debra Zinda.

Shannon grew up in Wibaux, Montana, where she attended all twelve years of school and graduated from Wibaux County High School in 1994. Growing up, she was active in sports with volleyball and basketball being her favorites. Like her brothers, Shad and Josh, Shannon was a proud Wibaux Longhorn. She loved the small-town family atmosphere, cheering on the football team, attending all community events and family gatherings.

After high school, she attended Dawson Community College, where she met her first husband. While living in Wibaux, Shannon welcomed her first son Bredt into the world. Shannon was born to be a mother, and two years later, Zachary was born. Her life was centered on giving the boys their best life.  Shannon and her boys eventually settled into Helena, Montana in 2006, where she began to create the long-lasting relationships that she maintained to the end of her life.

If you ever asked Shannon what was most important to her, she would tell you it’s her two boys. From young kids racing motocross to junior high and high school sports, she never missed a game or event, and you could always hear her cheering in the stands. During the time Zach and Bredt were in high school, every weekend was blocked out for her to attend their sporting events. Decked out in Jefferson Panther apparel, she would travel all over the state to support them. In their adult lives, she pushed them to be the best men they could be by supporting their decisions, giving advice when needed and always being available to just have a talk. She was always so proud of them.

Shannon absolutely loved her career and her coworkers as a Trust Administrator at the Montana Association of Counties, and she was proud to continue her work there until shortly before her death. Her job took her across Montana where she made friends from every corner of the state. She always looked forward to the Eastern Montana leg of her trips because she was able to reunite with family and friends from her younger years. The relationships she built with her coworkers extended far past work, she considered them to be some of her best friends.

From Boulder to Helena, there were very few places Shannon would go where she wasn’t known.  Her charm and bubbly spirit would light up any room she was in. Shannon was the life of the party everywhere she went; she touched the lives of so many people with her vivacious spirit and fun-loving attitude. Sporting her signature bandana, her contagious energy could turn even the blandest event into a memorable party.  That energy and spirit created a persona that will live on forever in her close friends and family.

In 2016, at the retirement party for Greg Jackson, her boss at the time, she was introduced to his son-in-law James, and she immediately inquired about how she could see him again. James and Shannon had their first real connection at Rockin’ the Rivers that year and immediately felt the spark that would turn into an incredible eight-year relationship, marrying in 2020. James and Shannon approached their relationship like Shannon approached life and turned every situation into an amazing one. They bonded over their love of 80’s rock music, camping, wine and baseball. They traveled the country going to concerts, watching baseball, seeing different cultures and living life to the fullest. Each March, they would travel to Florida to take part in Spring Training while living in their camper.  In 2019, in the pit at an Aerosmith concert in Las Vegas, James got down on one knee and asked Shannon to be his wife. They eloped to Las Vegas in July of 2020 and celebrated their marriage with their friends and family at a wedding ceremony in July of 2021 at their home in Montana City.

In the summer of 2023, she started having some serious problems with her health which led to an emergency visit to the hospital, where a tumor was detected on her brain. She was then taken to Missoula where she would undergo surgery. Her family was grateful to be with her to support her during this procedure. After the surgery, it was confirmed that the tumor was an aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma. While she knew she had an uphill battle to fight, Shannon’s spirit never wavered. For over a year, Shannon fought cancer to the best of her ability, undergoing treatment and driving to Seattle every other week for months to participate in a treatment trial.  With James by her side, they explored every medical option. Throughout that time, Shannon was able to go to Atlanta to watch her Braves play (and beat James’ Phillies), spent time in Nashville with her sons, traveled to Wibaux to celebrate Jim’s 70^th birthday and see family, and made a trip to see her friends at Rockin’ the Rivers.  After 13 months of treatment and surgeries, while receiving treatment for complications from her cancer, Shannon succumbed to the devastating illness. As disappointing as it was to everyone that she was gone, we took solace in knowing she was not suffering anymore.

Shannon is lovingly remembered and survived by her husband, James Chamberlain of Montana City, her children Bredt Shanholtzer of Nashville, Tennessee and Zachary Shanholtzer of Montana City; her mother, Debra Zinda of Wibaux; her father, Jim Zinda of Wibaux; brothers Shad Zinda (Callie Aschim) of Helena; Josh Zinda (Chloe) of Wibaux; nephews Cayden Zinda of Butte and Walker and Wylee Zinda of Wibaux; family members Bob and Marilyn Maphies; James’ children Katie and Jace Chamberlain; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.  A celebration of Shannon’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 25^th at 3pm at the Chapel at Anderson, Stevenson, Wilke & Retz (3750 N Montana Avenue) with a gathering of friends to follow at Papa Ray’s in Montana City.  Shannon will be brought home to Wibaux to be interred on Saturday, September 28^th with a celebration and reception at the Wibaux County Fairgrounds.

A Celebration of Shannon’s Life is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. A reception will follow the service at Papa Ray’s in Montana City. Burial will be held on September 28th in Wibaux, MT 28th with a celebration and reception at the Wibaux County Fairgrounds.

Service Schedule

Celebration of Her Life

3:00 p.m.

Wednesday September 25, 2024

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

View map

Reception

Following the service

Wednesday September 25, 2024

Papa Ray's

Montana City, Montana 59634

View map

Burial

Wibaux Cemetery

Wibaux, Montana 59353

View map

Celebration of Her Life

3:00 p.m.

Saturday September 28, 2024

Wibaux County Fairgrounds

Wibaux

Montana, 59353

View map

Share

Send flowers

Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist.

Photo Gallery

No photos have been submitted yet.
Click here to share yours.