Billie Louise DuCharme of Winnemucca peacefully passed from this life on Sept. 6, 2012, surrounded by her sister Jeri, granddaughter Ashley Freeman and three daughters, Sandy, Teri and Linda. Billie was 82 years young. Billie was born on Nov. 23, 1929 at her family home in Longview, Ill., to Louise Bernice Allen and Leonard Bert Kalk.
The family purchased a farm in South Beloit, Wis., and her father farmed his 80 acres. They grew corn and soy beans among other crops. She always talked of her life on the farm and the adventures she had.
Billie graduated from Hononegh High School in 1946. She worked for the Brown Swiss Company and was named Miss Brown Swiss in 1947. Billie later worked as a "Soda Jerk" at a soda fountain at the local drug store. There she met a handsome barn storming pilot named Bill DuCharme, he asked if she would like to go flying, she said she would and the romance began.
They were married on Oct. 30, 1949, and had their first child 9 months later. Mom always said, "Everyone was counting their fingers - they did that back then!"
Billie was preceded in death by her husband William Oren DuCharme; parents Leonard and Louise Kalk; brother Jack Kalk and sister Gloria Jeanne May. Billie was blessed with three daughters and a son, Sandy, Teri and Linda. She also had a son Richard William who died two days after he was born.
Billie is survived by her sister Jeri Benedetto (Dancer) of Oregon; her brother Thomas (Vickie) Kalk of Wisconsin; her daughters, Sandra Lee (Skip) Hammargren of Winnemucca; Teri Lynn (Benjamin) Rodriguez of Las Vegas; Linda Louise (Lars) Henretta of DeSoto, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren with 26 and 27 on the way; numerous nieces and nephews.
Billie's girls, Sandy, Teri and Linda will be taking her remains back to Clinton, Wis., to be interred with her husband and son at a later date.
Donations can be made, in Billie DuCharme's name, to any Alzheimer's research program or any volunteer hospice program of your choice.
We want to take the time to thank the many people who have helped Mom during her long illness - Genesis Home Health of Winnemucca with special mention to Kayla and Yolanda, they are angels and Mom loved them so much. Legacy Hospice of Boise, Idaho with special mention to Janet and Lorinda and Chaplin Jay - who were with us when Mom passed and we can't say how much we appreciated their kindness and support at that time. Mom we love you very much and want to say "See you later alligator . . . After while crocodile."
Ecclesiastics 3: "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die:
A time to weep, and a time to laugh
A time to mourn and a time to dance:
As Billie DuCharme left us Billie Adele Freeman was born. Ashley Hammargren Freeman and Andrew Freeman are proud to announce the birth of their Most Beautiful Daughter, Billie Adele, on July 10, 2012 in Boise, Idaho. Baby Billie weighted in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and was 20 inches long. She joins her three sisters Demi, Brianna and Isabella and two brothers Travis and Ian. Billie's maternal grandparents are Skip and Sandy Hammargren of Winnemucca; paternal grandparents are David K. Freeman of Camp Verdi, Ariz., and Joyce Konopaoky of Sistersville, W.V. The circle of life goes on.
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