Obituary of Teri Ann Thomas

Teri Ann Thomas (62) fought hard for over sixty days with the after effects of COVID-19. She passed away on December 30, 2020 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls after a long battle for the opportunity to spend more time with her beautiful grandchildren. Due to Covid-19 concerns, a private, family memorial service will be held at Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston.  Memorials would be preferred in lieu of flowers.

Teri blessed JB and Elaine Weber as their fifth child on April 4, 1958. She enjoyed a wonderful, family filled childhood in Wagner, SD and then moved to Parkston with her family in the spring of 1969. She graduated from Parkston High School in 1976. She then attended South Dakota State University and proudly graduated with her Bachelors of Nursing in 1980 ( Go Jacks!) Upon graduation, she took a job in Rochester, MN as an orthopedic nurse. Luckily, she went on a date with Daryl Thomas on her birthday prior to moving to Rochester, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Daryl and Teri were married on August 15, 1981 and started their amazing lifelong love together. She worked in Brookings, SD as Daryl finished his bachelors and then they moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Teri worked as a register nurse at both Sioux Valley and Avera Health Intensive Care Units.

Together, they made a beautiful life and welcomed their son, Jonathan Joseph, in November 1985 and their daughter, Kristin Jo, in May 1989. In the spring of 1993, the family moved back to Parkston, SD to take over the family farm. The amazing mother she was, Teri took time away from being a nurse to raise her children after moving back to the farm. She then decided to return to work as a nurse in the Avera Queen of Peace Emergency Department. After a couple years she returned to her love of Intensive Care, and in November 2003 started at the Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota. She enjoyed caring for both strangers and friends alike until her retirement in November 2017. During her many years she was able to teach and pass knowledge to many other nurses who became both friends and family. She will forever be remembered as the nurse who shaped the lives of patients and colleagues alike.

She found the joy and beauty in everything including sunsets on the river, Ranger rides with Daryl and their beloved dog Millie and a refreshing Bud Light lime. During her wonderful short years of "retirement," she enjoyed spending her time on the farm and being her most prized title of all, " Nana Teri" to Avery, Tucker, Claire, Wyatt and Elaina. She taught them many things including blowing bubbles, that bath time is for splashing and eating chocolate pudding is acceptable for supper. Most importantly, she taught them that a grandmother’s love is boundless and all forgiving. She will never be forgotten as she lives on in the memories and hearts of all those she cared for and loved. Her healing touch and generosity live on perpetually.

Carrying on her memory and thankful to have shared in her incredible life are her husband of 39 years, Daryl Thomas (Parkston, SD) and her children Jonathan, Sadie (Mogck) Tucker and Elaina Thomas (Seattle, WA), Kristin, Levi and Wyatt Bietz (Tripp, SD), her parents JB and Elaine (Kocmich) Weber (Parkston, SD), mother in law Bernadine Thomas (Parkston, SD), sister Linda Weber (Sioux Falls, SD), sister Peggy Barnett (Tucson, AZ), brother Tom & Gail Weber ( Brookings, SD), sister Sheri Jo & Dave Gibson (Brookings, SD), sister Jean & Butch Hoskins ( Perham, MN), brother in law Michael & CJ Thomas (Yankton, SD) in addition to many beloved nieces and nephews including Bryan McLellan, Dan (Nicole) Gibson, Sonya (Brady) Lyons, Tara (Ryan) Franchuk, Will (Heather) Long, Erin Weber, Sam (Gina) Long and Taylor (Kasey) Gibson and all of her great nieces and nephews whom she loved with all of her heart.

She is welcomed into heaven by her grandparents, Ed & Nettie Weber, Emil & Rose Kocmich, her beloved sister Dianne Richmond, eternally loved granddaughter Claire Bietz, father in law Ralph Thomas, brother in law George Barnett and countless patients she genuinely and tirelessly cared for to help and save.

"We love you mostest." Rest in peace and love.

"There will never be a day I won’t think of you and wish you were here by my side" -Narin Grewal