SDSU nursing alum receives viral recognition from Montana fan

Evan Wilson, a University of Montana alumnus and avid Griz football fan, never imagined his first viral Facebook post would be him singing the praises of a South Dakota State University grad. 

On the SDSU Jackrabbit Fans Nations page, Wilson, a stage IV cancer patient, shared his story of the exceptional care he received from Marnie Chambless, a 1991 SDSU nursing alum from Tripp, South Dakota. Chambless was Wilson’s pre-/post-operation nurse in Colorado last month. 

Wilson’s post, which resonated with the Jackrabbits fans, received thousands of likes and dozens of comments and shares. In it, he reflected the experience he had with Chambless during the time of his procedure. 

Wilson said in part, “I wanted to share a recent encounter I had with a South Dakota State alum that I think speaks volumes about your fan base. Her name is Marnie C., and she's a longtime registered nurse down here in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Marnie's not just any Jackrabbits fan — she's the kind that sports a team lanyard each and every day in the surgery unit and spends her Januarys celebrating in Frisco, Texas.” 

The SDSU Jackrabbits defeated the University of Montana Grizzlies in the 2023 NCAA FCS Championship in Frisco, Texas, this past January. Both Chambless and Wilson were in Texas cheering on their respective teams, though they didn’t cross paths until five months later. 

Chambless, who is not on Facebook, was sent a screenshot of the post by her college roommate and fellow SDSU nursing graduate, Brenda Jaton Hieb ’91. 

“I was amazed,” Chambless said. “I was in tears and just felt like, what a cool thing to do. Everything that he is facing in his own life, and he took the time to write such a beautiful post.”

Montana through and through

Wilson, a 2008 and 2009 graduate from Montana with degrees in political science and public administration, is a generational Griz. His father, who played football for the University of Montana, met his mother on campus after a class she took from Wilson's grandfather — a 40-year professor and the founder of Montana's physical therapy department. Evan's middle name is literally Montana.

He grew up in Eastern Montana and met his wife in Missoula, where the Wilsons began raising their two children. Now, his family lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where he works as a vice president for a political polling and communications firm. 

In June 2023, Wilson was diagnosed with colon cancer and has been undergoing treatments since. In June 2024, he underwent an over five-hour surgery, which is where he crossed paths with Chambless. 

Wilson, 39, has undergone over 600 hours of chemotherapy and seen hundreds of health care professionals. 

It is largely recommended to get a colonoscopy by the age of 45. Wilson, however, decided to get the testing earlier, which revealed colorectal cancer. 

Wilson was wearing his Montana gear when Chambless walked into his room donning a Jackrabbits lanyard to prepare him for surgery this spring. 

Wilson’s wife pointed it out first. “She said, ‘Honey, I don't know if you're going want me to tell you this, but you see that nurse in front of you? She went to South Dakota State University.’” 

Chambless said she wasn’t planning on bringing the rivalry up. “I didn't have the heart to say anything since he was coming in for major cancer surgery.” 

Then Wilson said, “Do you know anything about your football team?” 

Chambless replied, “Yes, I was at the game,” and the conversation went from there.

A lasting impression

Chambless was the first nurse Wilson saw when he arrived at the hospital and the first person he saw when he came out of the successful surgery.

Wilson points to a superstition of being “Montana tough” or “Montana ’til I die” as a mantra for his health care battles.

“Wearing your team apparel like I did when I put on Grizzly maroon and silver, I feel tougher, and I needed to be tough on that day,” he said.

He remembers Chambless saying, “You know, you Griz are pretty tough,” as he came out of anesthesia.

“Marnie was just out of this world and funny,” he said. “She’s the type of person that you want, you know, on your sideline going into a five-hour liver surgery.”

Chambless went above and beyond in making Wilson feel comfortable and giving him confidence. She helped not only him but was also there for his wife and mother throughout the procedure.

“Down here in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, you sort of never think you're going to run into your arch football rival on the most important day of your life, health care wise,” he said.

Wilson joked that out of the roughly 25 surgical beds and dozens of nurses at the hospital, of course he would get the one who wore an SDSU lanyard. But he’s glad he did.

“Marnie Chambless is the type of person you want in that fourth quarter,” Wilson said. “Just as Mark Gronowski can inspire the next generation of quarterbacks, Marnie Chambless can inspire the next generation of nurses in this country."

“You know, it's a testament to the type of people who come out of South Dakota,” Wilson said. “But if anybody deserves to go viral in this country for their deeds, their actions, it's Marnie Chambless.”

Connecting with others

Chambless’ favorite part of her nursing career is interacting and spending quality time with patients.

“I love pre-op because I love connecting to the people. I feel like I have a way of bringing calm to a situation,” she said. “And this is probably one of the hardest times in a lot of people's lives. I pray for them, whether they know it or not.”

Venita Winterboer was an instructor in the College of Nursing while Chambless was a student at SDSU. Winterboer remembers Chambless as a “kind and caring individual with a passionate attitude toward patients and families.”

“What Marnie epitomizes closely aligns with the values of the College of Nursing, which is to improve health and quality of life for others as well as respect for all individuals,” Winterboer said.

On Wilson’s post, Chambless said, “It says a lot about his character and what kind of person he is to step out of his battle and write such a meaningful tribute.”

Regarding the reach the post has had, Chambless said, “With one little post, a whole network of strangers has come together to support him and pray for him. That is pretty amazing. We may be rivals on the field, but we are all rooting for Evan in life.”