Madeline Chapman Burtner

Please allow us to tell you of our mother, for she was truly a remarkable woman. Madeline was born on January 29, 1922 to Harry and Alice Chapman in the dusty wide spot-in-the-road hamlet of Weed, California, although Hornbrook, CA was her home. Harry was a WWI vet, strict but a loving husband and father. It was a hard-scrabble time in America. Few homes in her area had running water or electricity and school consisted of many grades in 3 rooms. At the age of 11, Madeline entered a Montgomery Wards subscription contest and lo and behold won an all-expenses paid trip to the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. She traded the transportation cost for cash so her parents, her brother Bill and sister Marilyn could fire up the 1930 Chrysler and head to Chicago together. One year later, Madeline’s mother, Alice, was stricken with tuberculosis and Madeline became a care-giver for her mother who succumbed to TB and died in 1939. Madeline graduated high school in Yreka, CA in the same year her mother passed, and moved on to attend Placer Junior College in Placerville, CA. It was there she met the man who would become her lover and husband of 67 years, Edwin Burtner. She graduated from San Jose State College with her teaching degree in 1943. When WWII broke out, Madeline chose not to wave the flag, but help to carry it by joining the Army. Stationed in Fort Leavenworth, KS she continued her romance with Ed, largely by correspondence, as he was in the thick of it in the South Pacific Theater. Somehow they both managed to get furlough and she took the train from Kansas to Grass Valley, CA where they were married on November 5, 1944. When the war was over they left the service to start a farm in Grass Valley, CA. Times were tough and Ed re-enlisted in the USAF in 1947. Through many moves to duty stations near and far, they managed to welcome five children into their lives and were eventually stationed in Mountain Home, ID. Moving from duty station to duty station with five kids sounds a little like herding cats, but Madeline didn’t earn her Sgt stripes in WWII by being timid. Like her father, her discipline was always tempered with love and tenderness. They loved Idaho and it became home for the rest of their lives. Madeline started her career as a teacher in 1957 and retired from her beloved profession in 1983. Her last school was the old Meridian Intermediate School on 1st Street in Meridian. Madeline was a very spiritual woman who loved the Lord and knew Jesus as her personal savior. She stood as an example of love, forgiveness and strength to her children and grandchildren.

Madeline is survived by Russ (Kitty) Burtner, Kathi (Rich) Sampson, Carol (Rico) Weber and Ann (Fred) Yerzy along with 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Alice, her husband Ed, her brother Bill, her sister Marilyn and her son Roger. The late Dr. Billy Graham once counseled a woman who was worried that her little dog wouldn’t be joining her in heaven. He explained to her that God’s promise was that heaven would include everything you ever wanted or desired and not to worry. Madeline loved her family dearly. We will be along shortly Mom. We love you.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at Overland Court Senior Living as well as those from Horizon Hospice. You were all so good to our Mom.

There are no services planned at this time, but well wishes and prayers are gratefully and humbly welcome.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.cloverdalefuneralhome.com