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Steven R. Terhark, 72

Sep 6, 2015

Steven Terhark

Fairmont A celebration of life service for Steven R. Terhark, age 72, of Fairmont, was held Aug. 31, 2015, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Burial was in the Riverview Cemetery in Elmore, with full military graveside honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post #36 and the Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1222 of Fairmont.

Steve passed away Friday morning, Aug. 28, 2015, at his home in Fairmont.

Steven Ralph Terhark was born on Nov. 24, 1942, in Pipestone, the son of Chris and Meta (Brink) Terhark. He attended school in Elmore, graduating from Elmore High School with the class of 1960. Following his graduation, Steve enlisted in the United States Navy where he worked as a flight mechanic. Steve served his country proudly during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Vietnam, Guam, Japan, Okinawa, Philippines, Hawaii, and Alaska. In 1964, he received his honorable discharge and returned home to Minnesota.

On July 18, 1964, Steve was united in marriage to Vicki R. Kurth in Elmore. Together the couple made their home in Minneapolis while Steve attended the Dunwoody Institute. They later moved to Spicer, before returning to Elmore, where Steve opened an auto body shop. In October 1972, Steve and Vicki were blessed with the birth of their son, Chad. The family then moved to Northrop where Steve opened another auto body shop and also worked as a supervisor for Nordaas American Homes, supervising house building crews in the five state area. Steve and Vicki later moved to Fairmont.

Steve was a talented musician and played for many years with the Terhark Brothers Band. One of his favorites was playing for his son, Chad’s wedding reception. Steve also loved fishing. He showed his three grandkids how to fish and they always looked forward to visiting their Papa in Fairmont to go in the boat fishing together. Steve enjoyed spending time with his family and singing and playing guitar. His grandkids know when Papa comes over they are going to get plenty of “moochies” from Papa. Steve and Vicki celebrated 51 years of marriage on July 18, 2015.

Steve was a member of the Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1222 and the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post #36. He was also a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont as well as being a member of the Musicians Union.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Vicki Terhark, of Fairmont; son, Chad (Kara) Terhark, and their children, Mary, Graham, and Joey, of Hastings; sister, JoAnn Mileham, of Elmore; brothers, David (Jean) Terhark, of Illinois, Mike Terhark, of Fairmont, and Gary (Deede) Terhark, of Sioux City, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Diane (Art) Rittenhouse, of Paynesville, Kathy (Alvin) Ferguson, of Elmore, and Linda (Kurth) Wildung, of Tucson, Ariz.; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Meta Terhark; grandparents, Ralph and Minnie Terhark and Magnus and Tena Brink; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gerald “Benny” and Bernice Kurth; and a brother-in-law, Brigadier General Ronald Kurth.