Jacquelyn Rae Metzenberg was ALMOST born Holly Noelle Metzenberg on December 27, 1955. Thanks to a deal struck between her parents, Ernie and Gladys, that he would name the girls and she would name the boys, she escaped the fate of being a Christmas baby with a Christmas name.

Jackie was born in Miles City, but thanks to Ernie's law enforcement career, she grew up all over SE Montana, graduating from Dawson County High School with the class of 1974, and Dawson Community College with the class of 1976.

On a beautiful spring day in 1981, sheriff's deputy Denny Palmer walked across the alley from the Law Enforcement Center to the county courthouse in Sidney, Montana, after being told how cute the new driver's examiner was (he'd later learn she was also the Highway Patrol Captain's middle daughter). Pleased to see he hadn't been misled, and blinded by her killer smile, Denny's atypical shyness crept up, and Jackie had to chase him a bit (he was cute too, and that mustache? Come on now). They were married at St. Matthew's Catholic Church on April 17, 1982.

Jackie and Denny settled into their lives as a young married couple for just a short while before deciding to start a family. Their only child and built-in bestie, RaeLeigh Jo, was born August 28, 1983.

Jackie spent the next 22 years working for the state of Montana as a driver's examiner, providing written and final driving exams to hundreds of teenagers in Richland, Sheridan, and Roosevelt Counties. Many remember her kind smile and calm demeanor in what were the most nerve-wracking moments of their young lives.

When she wasn't carrying out her duties as "that Jackie lady" down at the DMV, she was busy being the best wife and mom in the entire world, tagging along with Denny and RaeLeigh in whatever adventures they could dream up. She taught her daughter the cultural significance of pop and country music in the late 80s and early 90s, earning herself a duet partner to any tune that came on the radio. She taught Denny as much patience as he could muster raising the headstrong kid that was somehow a perfect combination of her sweetness, his friendliness, and both their Scandinavian stubbornness.

Jackie retired from Driver Services in 2005, to dedicate herself to being a stay-at-home mom of a recent college grad, waiting by the phone for the inevitable "how do I know this spaghetti is done?" phone call. Aside from her sometimes 3 daily calls with RaeLeigh, and her lunchtime and Friday night dates with Denny, she kept herself busy in retirement reading and planning a new house build, which was completed in 2011. When signing documents for their new home, Jackie's bright smile and kind and patient disposition enchanted the folks at Sidney Abstract and she found herself with a part-time administrative gig for a few years, until oil activity in the area slowed again.

In July 2019, Jackie moved to Billings to be closer to her favorite daughter. Denny had retired from the sheriff's office but was working for the Richland County Road Department and commuting to his girls on weekends. In December 2019, he fully retired and joined them in Billings.

The three amigos made it through the global COVID pandemic, hunkering down at home, and acquiring a pandemic puppy, Augustine, for RaeLeigh's 37th birthday.

During her time in Billings, Jackie enjoyed caring for her family and grandpuppy, nail appointments, haircut dates, lunches, brunches, and Target/Starbucks/Soda Station runs with her daughter, and going for drives with Denny.

Jackie peacefully passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the Billings Clinic Hospital in Billings, MT after a short illness, but not before charming the daylights out of half the staff at Billings Clinic and University of Washington Medical. We will be eternally grateful for their efforts in giving us as much time with her as they could.

She was lovingly welcomed Home by her mom and dad, beloved Grandma Daisy, big sister Bobbi, brother-in-law Mike, her in-laws, Gene and Helen, and her sweet niece, Amy Lynn.

She is already desperately missed by the loves of her life, Denny and RaeLeigh Jo, her furball granddaughter Gus, her little sister Kellye, big brother Mike, step-mom Vada, brothers-in-law John, Joe, Hassell, and George, sisters-in-law Pam, Diane, and Loretta, childhood besties, Terry and Debi, as well as her cherished nieces Joli, Darcy, Tara (Randy), Blair, and Casey, and nephews Michael (Angie), Nathaniel (Alta), Nathan (Beth), and Corey (Tylah), as well as several great nieces and nephews. Aunt Jackie loved you guys, endlessly.

Memorial Contribution