Mass of Christian Burial for 83-year old Jack Billings, formerly of Chadron, NE, will be Tues, Oct 11, 2022 at 10:00 at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron.
Burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for St Jude’s Research Hospital for Children, the Shriners, St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron, or the Chadron Fire Department. Donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences may be left at chamberlainchapel.com
Jack D Billings was born March 28, 1939 in Winner, SD, to Robert Forth Billings and Wilma (Spidel) Billings Root. He died peacefully on September 29, 2022 in Barrington, IL.
Jack served in the United States Navy for 3.5 years aboard the USS Steinaker DDR #863. Always a rebel, he enlisted under false pretenses as he was only 16 years of age at the time. After returning home, he met and soon married the love of his life, Rayleen Theresa Schommer. They wed on August 13, 1962, at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron.
Jack worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for 39 years, from April of 1960 until his retirement in 1999. He and Rayleen then moved to Maricopa, AZ,, to escape the cold Nebraska winters. In Arizona, he reconnected with several old railroad buddies and tried like heck to perfect his game of golf. That never happened.
Jack’s prized possession was his remote – any remote, really, where he could ease into a comfy chair and proceed to watch hours and hours of sports – football, women’s college softball and golf being at the top of his list. Add a cold Bud Light and he was a happy, happy man.
Survivors include Daughter and Son-in-Law, Deb and John Worley of Crystal Lake, IL; Grandchildren Britanee Foster, Alyson Morris, Logan Almond, Jessica Brown and Taime Billings; Great-grandchildren Liam, Emma and Luke Morris, Charlotte and Everett Foster, Etta and Evie Almond and Joelle Brown.
Jack was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Rayleen Theresa Billings, two sons Troy and Cory Billings, parents Wilma Root and Robert “Shorty” Billings, and brother Robert Billings.
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for Jack Billings.
My Condolences To the Family. Knew the family from back when I could start remembering.
My condolences also to the family. I talk to Jack several times at length when he was over here in Georgetown at Turnberry. I thought he was marvelous I loved all his tattoos from the Navy and all his stories. We will miss him over here in Georgetown. To all the family you had a great father grandfather and great grandfather and that’s a wonderful thing to have. Cheryl Lockwood 312-286-1530