Chambers, Catherine Rose, 1935

Class of 1935

Bachelor of Mathematics Education

Catherine Chambers was born July 26, 1913 in Havana Township, MN the youngest child of Alex and Rose (Crickmore) Chambers, pioneer farmers. She grew up in a happy family of three brothers and a sister - Burton, George, Charles and Emma (Larson). Catherine was the last one to die. Catherine attended grade school at District 11 in Havana, graduated from Owatonna High School in 1931, and from Macalester College in 1935 with a degree in Mathematics Education. In 1935 there was little need for Math teachers and so she took a job in Owatonna at the bottom of the ranks in the Northwest Bell Telephone Company - as a telephone operator. She found her niche and "Ma Bell" found just whom she wanted and they stayed together for 40 years, when Catherine retired. She was an operator in Owatonna, and she was promoted to chief operator at Shakopee.

Her degree in Education became valuable when she became a trainer of new operators in Minneapolis, then a trainer of trainers. She was sent to Omaha and New York City to set up training programs, a position that was not often given to women in those days. Following her retirement, she resided in a pleasant apartment on Park Avenue in Minneapolis where she could follow her interests in Art, Music and Politics. She was a member of the Minneapolis Branch of AAUW; she enjoyed the Minneapolis Orchestra and the New York Metropolitan Opera, when it was in town. Membership in Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis was a big part of her life. Her excitement in attending often extended to nieces and nephews who attended with her. Catherine did not marry, had no family of her own but she had a big enough collection of college and phone company friends to make a large family. And, in addition to her parents and siblings, she had eleven nieces and nephews, who with their spouses formed a strong mutual admiration society with her.

(Taken from obituary)