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Monique wirz lit a candle
Saturday, November 2, 2019
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With all my condolences. Thinking of you during this times.
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Kellie Mendenhall uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 15, 2019
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Kellie, Zack (Kellie's son), Evan and Terri - Spokane
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Kellie Mendenhall uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 15, 2019
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Terri, Kellie and Eddie (Kellie's husband) at a Cougar game in Pullman
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Kellie "Brower" Mendenhall posted a condolence
Friday, March 15, 2019
I’ll never forget the moment I met Terri Ann Rengstorff in Stephenson East at Washington State University. We had a floor meeting with our RA the first day we arrived, and Terri’s smile and energy literally filled the room. Immediately I just knew that I had to meet that girl!
We had a welcome dance at the dorm that night, so I went to Moscow, ID to pick up some beer. (I was 20 and the drinking age was 19 over there.) Being an extremely shy person back then, it took all my nerve to knock on Terri’s door, which happened to be right next door, and say “Hi, would you like to drink some beer before the dance tonight.” And much to my surprise she said with her innate exuberance, “Come on in I already have some!!!” This was the beginning of our lifelong friendship.
From this day forward, we were inseparable for at least the next two years, except when she spent time with her boyfriend, Daren Belsby, or when we were at class. Eventually we both had roommate issues and Terri’s moved out, so I moved into her dorm room. I remember she was concerned that us living together would hurt our friendship, but I assured her that it wouldn’t. (I was right!)
I have never been so comfortable with another girl/woman in my life. She never judged people or made them feel small even though her personality was bigger than life. While I did not talk to her regularly after getting married and having kids, each time I saw her it was like we were never apart. I always knew that I could reach out to her at any time for anything and she would be there for me. We just had that kind of relationship.
I was honored to be in her wedding party, along with 3 other special women. We each represented her best friends at different points in her life. Her first best friend, her cousin Barb, her junior high/high school best friend, Viki, her college best friend, me and her best friend at the time, Joan. I thought that was so clever and a cool way to select your bridesmaids. We all got along swimmingly and had a blast drinking champagne and giggling while getting ready for the ceremony.
Outside of our respective weddings and other special events, we got together every time she was over my way or I was over her way; Including when my husband, parents and I were driving back from the east coast after 911. We just popped by to say “hi” since we were driving through Idaho and as always, she welcomed us with open arms.
In addition, we met at her aunt and uncle’s beach house in Long Beach, WA a few times and had fun roasting hotdogs and marshmallows and walking on the beach. Just like her, her family was very welcoming and kind to everyone. I cherish every moment that I have ever spent with her, there are no words to describe how special she was.
Terri Ann Rengstorff – The College Years
Terri was a vibrant young woman, friendly and full of life. She made friends easily and was central to our college friend group. She introduced me to her cousin, Frank Maryott, early on and we began hanging out with the guys from Stephenson South where Frank lived. The first time we attended a 9th floor South party, we met our soon-to-be roommate and close friend, Kevin Comeaux. The three of us were as close as people could get without being family. We even went skiing together at Mt. Bachelor on spring break when my parents rented a house over there. We would stay up till all hours of the night playing games, going in the hot tub and laughing our butts off. Then we would end up falling asleep in the hide-a-bed with Kevin instead of us going to our bedroom. I’m not sure what my parents thought when they woke up to find us all in bed together, but it was a blast!
Our first year consisted of Terri losing her student ID card regularly, which is how we paid for our meals, me covering her meals until she located it and her paying me back when she found it. I am inherently organized and rarely lose things, so this was amusing to me. We hung out with a couple of the fraternities and went to several frat parties together where Terri would meet new people with ease. I was in awe of her ability to speak with strangers as though they were friends since I was crippled by my shyness. Thankfully spending time with her helped me overcome my social anxiety and become comfortable speaking with others.
Terri introduced me to George Thorogood that year in the dorm. I had heard his music before but never appreciated it until I saw Terri dance to it. She just LOVED his songs! She also introduced me to Whitney Houston and Celine Dion among others. We had a blast hanging out in the dorm listening to music together.
The following year Terri, Frank, Kevin and I shared a four-bedroom apartment in Campus Commons North – K210 to be exact. We hosted several Piranha Parties that year, named for Frank’s piranhas which he would deprive of food for a few days and then drop live goldfish into the tank at midnight. They were EPIC and became so well-known that I even had someone invite me to my own party! After each party, we had a roommate ritual where we would use the extra keg money we earned to take ourselves out to breakfast and then come home and clean up the apartment.
Spending time with her friends was important to her, so even though she sort of lived with Daren that year, us roomies made a point to spend every Sunday together. We called it “Roommate Night”. We would always get S’Mores ice cream and the four of us would watch the Sunday night line up on TV or play games. Sometimes Frank would cook us a new recipe he wanted to try out, which was awesome because Terri, Kevin and I were not into cooking much! I cherished our Sundays back then and still think of these fond memories often.
We loved going to the home football games on Saturdays when we could. We often had a pre-game party at our apartment before walking to the stadium, which included playing Mexicali or Quarters. Our team was horrible back then, but we just had fun being together and rooting our guys on.
The summer of 1986, after our first year at Wazzu, I lived in Bellevue with Terri, Dorothy and Arnie. They graciously opened their home to me and treated me like a part of the family. Terri and I worked for a temp agency that summer and had a couple of interesting jobs. One was taking thinly sliced smoked salmon and putting the pieces back together neatly like a puzzle. We worked with all Korean women and they would talk in Korean and point toward us a laugh. We had no idea what they were saying but we knew they were laughing about us or how we worked. We just looked at each other and cracked up. It was hysterical!!!
Terri was known for her awesome “rolling pin massages” and in fact she gave my husband and me one last time we saw her. I think she learned about this when she was studying exercise science at WSU, but wherever it was we all appreciated it! She taught the three of us how to do it so we could reciprocate on her. That year with my roomies in Campus Commons North K210 is among my favorite years of my life.
Terri’s love for exercise and health carried into all aspects of her life. Her bachelorette party consisted of us crazy girls taking turns getting massages from a few massage students along with drinking wine, eating snacks, listening to music, dancing, etc. Any time she could incorporate a healthy activity or massage into a get-together, she did. Such a great way to live your life!
Terri, being so outdoorsy and naturally athletic, joined the Wazzu ski team. She enjoyed the comradery and did quite well. Her third year there, she competed in a woman’s body building competition. I remember her struggling with the “no dairy” aspect of the diet because she loved her morning cereal and milk as well as ice cream. But being the goal-oriented person she was, she conquered her cravings and took 4th place in the competition.
She also loved biking, especially mountain biking. One time my son, Zack, my parents and I stopped by Cataldo on our way to Montana to spend the day with her and decided to go biking. We had a great day exploring the trails near her house and catching up on life.
I don’t think there was an outdoor activity that Terri didn’t love. She was a certified rafting guide and worked the Snake River seasonally for a few years after college. Her love of rafting never diminished. In fact, she went rafting with our college bud Vic Ruthenbeck just this past June. I remember kayaking with her and her dad on Lake Coeur d’Alene a day or two before her wedding, hiking near Cataldo, and riding Frank’s moped through the local park in Pullman. If it was outdoors, she was in!
Terri was adventurous and fearless and would try almost anything once. What’s more, 99% of the time she was good at whatever she did. This woman never ceased to amaze me!!!
The world has lost a very special soul and she will be dearly missed!
Kellie “Brower” Mendenhall
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Mark Rengstorff posted a condolence
Friday, March 8, 2019
Obituary:
Terri A. Matthews, age 51, passed away on Sunday, November 4, 2018. She was born February 19th, 1967, in Seattle WA. She was a graduate of Newport High School and Washington State University. Her various jobs included a skiing, snowboarding, and river rafting guide, teaching avalanche survival, property manager and physical therapist. Terri truly lived life to the fullest through her love for the outdoors; snowboarding, snowmobiling, kayaking, river rafting, mountain biking, and spending time with her son and friends. Terri had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way. She is survived by her son, Evan; brothers, Mark and Michael Rengstorff and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Family, friends, and others whose lives Terri touched are invited to a celebration of life at 1 p.m. on Saturday March 23 2019, at the Real Life Ministries 10 South Division Street, Pinehurst, ID 83850 to reminisce, grieve, and most importantly support each other though this difficult time.
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PJ posted a condolence
Saturday, December 15, 2018
My husband and I would like express our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of your beloved Terri. Although we hadn’t had the opportunity to meet Terri personally, we do understand the pain of losing one so dear to our hearts. We would like to share with you comfort we have experienced from Gods word found in 2 Corinthians 1:3,4. Our Heavenly Father is truly a wonderful source of comfort, for he is always there for the broken hearted and he truly cherishes you, especially now in your time of sorrow. ( Psalm 34:18, 1 Peter 5:7) Please take a few moments, share your memories with those who surround you, for the memories shared are the ones most truly cherished, may they bring you comfort and peace as you begin to heal.
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Betsy Black posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
I am so sorry to hear of Terri's recent and unexpected passing. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. She will be greatly missed. I want to send my deepest condolences to all of her family and friends. She was a very special person and will never be forgotten.
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Raeanne Forsberg lit a candle
Monday, November 19, 2018
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May your laughter, love of the great outdoors, compassion for others and friendship be scattered throughout the universe and bring happiness & love to all it touches just as you did in life!!
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Joan Kelso posted a condolence
Monday, November 19, 2018
Thank you my dear friend for all the adventures. For showing up at my office, dropping of snowboard gear and remarking "I know you get off at noon, meet me on the mountain, I am going to teach you how to snowboard!". When we almost got lost in the dark on our mountain bikes, and, not telling anyone where we really had gone; so a search party was never going to find us. Your confidence was earth shaking, I'm so sorry for all those who ever knew you, because we are very sad. I believe you are sitting in the lap of Jesus and He is holding you tight and your sorrows are no more! All my love and respect - Joan
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Lori Mitchell lit a candle
Thursday, November 15, 2018
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Joanne Coast posted a condolence
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Terri you will be missed by many people that new you and having fun in the Balance Class when you were teaching the class, you were a very nice person, and it is so sad to see you go, my Condolences to her Family, I feel so sorry and sad that she is no longer here
Joanne Coast :(
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Joanne Coast lit a candle
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
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Kellie Mendenhall uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
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A part of my heart is missing. I just loved this beautiful woman!
K
Kellie Mendenhall uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
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A great weekend in Pullman with Terri and my husband, Eddie. Coug-Oregon game...and we nearly won!
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