Terry   Kluthe

CELEBRANT
Fr. Randy Phillips
MUSIC
Organist ~ Georgianne Pravacek
Special Music ~ Pat & Amy Weight
Congregational Hymns
Terry Kluthe died in Sioux Falls, S. D. on May 6, 2016 after a courageous 22 day battle with human metapneumovirus. He had been successfully undergoing chemotherapy for multiple myeloma since July of 2015. Terry died surrounded by the love and prayers of his wife and children.
Terry was born on October 27, 1941, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Robert and Shirley Kluthe. His first seven years of life were spent in Portland, Oregon. His parents returned to Plankinton, S.D., where he graduated from Plankinton High School in 1960. He was involved in many activities, esp. basketball, track, and plays. His team won 4th place in 1959 in the state B basketball tournament, and he medaled in several state and local track meet events.
He attended Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield, S.D., where he majored in education and physical education with minors in social studies and speech; he earned a Bachelor of Science from Southern in 1964. He was a member of the Neuman Club, young Democrats, and Sigma Delta Nu, a campus fraternity for education majors. After graduation, Terry taught high school in Presho and Parkston, S.D. and coached basketball, football, track, & golf, directed plays, and judged speech activities. He also actively refereed area high school basketball games for many years. He taught elementary physical education in Orange Park, Florida, for one year.
In 1972, Terry earned a Master of Education degree from South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. He embarked upon a 20 year career as a school administrator in Hartington, NE, Bedford, IA, Scotland, SD, and Marcus-Meriden, IA. At each school, he organized a spring track meet for the elementary children where his goal was for each child to earn at least one ribbon. He retired to Scotland, SD in 1992.
Terry married Linda Kurtenbach of Parkston, SD on August 7, 1969. To this union, a daughter and son were born. The couple had been married for 46 years, 9 months at the time of his death. He was a life-long Catholic, member of St. George Catholic Church, third degree in the Knights of Columbus, and had served as a lector while a member of Sacred Heart Church in Bedford, IA.
Terry enjoyed golfing and for many years was a zero handicap golfer. He enjoyed many sporting events and was a devoted Twins,Vikings, and Duke fan. For many years, he spent hours metal detecting. Before he became ill, his goal was a daily walk of two miles. He enjoyed playing a variety of card games, putting together puzzles, listening to classical music, and watching TV. He enjoyed travel with his wife and children. He had been to all 50 states, on several Caribbean cruises, to Canada, Mexico, Europe and England. On a simpler side, he often accompanied his son on road trips to recover items his son had purchased for his business; it was one of their many father-son bonding times!
Terry was a very social guy and loved to tell stories about his life and funny incidents. He definitely had a sense of humor; where he was, laughter reigned. In the most normal situations, he could come up with funny scenerios that he carried off with a straight face. He could pull off pranks by speaking Esperanto, French, Italian, and Russian, none of which he had studied. He loved young people and easily established a rapport with them; he loved to sing opera for them, and make Daffy duck, elephant,cattle, and other animal noises.
Most of all, he loved his family, holiday dinners, and spending time visiting with them. He cherished his role as Papa to his three grandchildren. His favorite holiday was Christmas. He shopped for months, wrapped presents for hours, and loved the decorations, cookies, and candy making. In his retirement, he often baked cookies and the best raspberry pies, complete with a homemade crust. For his children and grandchildren, he created stories about Lollipop Land. He lived to show his love for them, and he leaves a great void in their hearts.
Terry is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Lindsay (Mike) Dummer of Lennox, SD and their children, Allison, Matthew, and Ashley; son Troy of Scotland; sister and brother-in-law, Kathie and Neil Weight of Brookings, nephew Tim Weight of Brookings, and nephew Pat and Amy Weight of Flandreau, SD, his aunt, Joyce Brotherston of Philadelphia, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tom, grandparents, and many other relatives.