- June Neta Terhark, age 85, a life-time Park Rapids, MN resident, passed away peacefully to her eternal home on Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Diamond Willow Assisted Living of Park Rapids with her loved ones at her side.
June was born on June 16, 1928 to Harry and Ruth (Braatz) Hitchcock on her parent's farm in Henrietta Township near Park Rapids, MN. She attended public school in Park Rapids graduating with the Class of 1946. June was united in marriage to James Edwin Terhark on May 21, 1948 in Dorset, MN. Their marriage was blessed with eight daughters. June devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and daughters. She was a long-time and faithful member of St John's Lutheran Church where she was a member of the Evening Guild for many years. When her husband died suddenly in 1978, she became both mom and dad to her family.
She will be lovingly remembered by her eight daughters: Sue Litzau of Park Rapids, Linda (Walt) Leckner of Park Rapids, Nancy Terhark of Park Rapids, Reenie Campbell of Crescent City, CA, Carol Terhark of Moorhead, MN, Debbie (Brian) Luther of Park Rapids, Janie (Tim) Wheeler of Park Rapids and Shari (Vance) Carlson of Park Rapids; her 21 dearly loved grandchildren: Missy Quinn, Rob Litzau, Ron (Lynn) Litzau, Jessie Litzau, Jim (Emily) Leckner, Patti (Chris) Goodman, Ryan (Jessica) Leckner, Sarah (Rhyn) Noll, Jason (Katie) Campbell, Jennifer Campbell, Ben (Vanessa) Campbell, Josh Terhark, JT (Sarah) Luther, Luke (Molly) Luther, Megan Luther, Katie Luther, Amy Luther, Taylor Wheeler, Chris Wheeler, Alyssa Carlson and Austin Carlson; her 33 precious great grandchildren: two brothers: Philip Hitchcock of Pine Island, MN and Richard (Joyce) Hitchcock of Fergus Falls, MN; 1 sister, Dorothy Embree of Park Rapids; two sisters-in-law, Etta Mae Hitchcock of Salem, OR and Sharon (Roger) Winter of Park Rapids as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
June's daughters will remember her for her endless pots of coffee and the hours of laughing, sharing stories, and reading the paper around the kitchen table. Also for her strawberry/raspberry jams that started with a morning of picking and ended with a jar of jam for all. Sunday church was followed by lunch at moms, where she could take a pound of hamburger and magically make it into a meal for however many people showed up. June was an inspiration to all of them in many ways... some of which they have yet to discover.
Most of June's grandchildren knew her as the Green House Grandma. They were the highlight of her day. Her house was often referred to as Grand Central Station because of her open door policy, welcoming hugs, and her seemingly bottomless cookie jar. Her house was often filled to capacity with grandkids along with their friends.
Some of her favorite things to do were watching Twins games, driving to look for deer (100+ at last count), family reunions, the chicken dance, and family holidays especially Christmas Eve. She also loved to walk - lots of miles were happily spent walking around Park Rapids, often with friends and family.
June's faith, trust, and love in the Lord were a very important part of her life. She rarely missed a chance to attend worship and her St John's church family was an essential part of her life. She always ended her day reading the Bible and the Portals of Prayer.
June was preceded in death by her husband, James Terhark; mother and father, Harry and Ruth Hitchcock; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Everett and Fern Terhark; brothers, Dean, Don and Dave Hitchcock; sister, Dee Lindow; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerry and Lorraine Terhark; brother-in-law, Dave Shackman; sisters-in-law, Jacque Hitchcock, Georgia Hitchcock, Bev Hitchcock; and brothers-in-law, Bill Lindow and Royce Embree.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at St Johns Lutheran Church with Rev. James Neubauer and Rev. Timothy Heinecke officiating. Music will be provided by Sarah Kaufenberg (organist), Roberta Hitchcock (flutist) and Lynn Just (soloist). Congregational hymns will be: "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" "Children of The Heavenly Father" and "Jesus Loves Me". The active casket bearers will be: Jim Leckner, Rob Litzau, Ron Litzau, Ryan Leckner, J.T. Luther and Luke Luther. The rest of her grandchildren will serve as honorary casket bearers. Interment will be made next to her husband, James Terhark, at the Greenwood Cemetery in Park Rapids. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM Monday, December 30, at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday
|
1928 - 2013 (85 jaar)