Terrance Dean Ste. Marie

Terrance Dean Ste. Marie passed away October 31, 2019, in Spokane, WA, on the eve of 'All Saints' Day', after bravely battling cancer.

Terry, TD, or Saint, was born, July 9, 1943, to Reaume & Alyce Ste. Marie, in Crookston, Minnesota. He grew up nearby the family flour mill in Plummer, Minnesota, alongside his sisters, Janyce (Ron Hayden) & Sharon (Jack Corbett), & his brother, Timothy (Joseph Meeks). At age thirteen, he moved to Seattle where Reaume worked for Boeing & Alyce made a loving home. In 1963, Terry enlisted in the Marine Corps and completed basic training at Parris Island, SC. He became an aircraft maintenance crew chief & was always proud to have been a Marine. Semper Fi.

In 1967 he married Terri Kaye Maier of Lind, WA. They shared a wonderful marriage for 52-years & are celebrated by their three boys, Joel (Kimberly), Jason (Lori) & Beau. Terry & Terri has been blessed by their five grandchildren, Patrick (Michelle), Brittany (Michael Clizbe), Holly, Mason & Travis, as well as two great grandchildren, Camrynn & Elena. Terry loved & spoke endlessly of his 27 cousins & his many lifelong friendships.

In 1966 Terry bought a brand new, canary yellow GTO. In 1968 with their first child on the way, they sold the GTO to purchase their first home in West Seattle & it was here that they started their family. Terry would forever put his family first. They eventually moved to Burien in 1974, while Terry continued his work as a cargo surveyor & along with their children, enjoyed close friendships that would last decades. In 1978, they bought a summer cabin on Mason Lake which would become a sanctuary & home for Terry & his family throughout his entire life. He spent countless hours building & maintaining this piece of "God's Country" with his family & friends. The garage & loft he built there with his father stands today. Mason Lake was his life's work.

In 1980, having never farmed a day in his life, Terry moved his family to Lind to run the 3,500-acre family wheat farm that his wife was raised on. Terry became a dryland wheat farmer with his own intuition, fortitude & the support of an ever-welcoming community. These years would become the most rewarding of Saint's life & where he ultimately chose to be laid to rest.

Terry served on the Parks & Recreation Board of Commissioners where he spearheaded the construction of the Lind Walking Trail as well as the integration of the Pee-Wee Basketball program; he was also active in town team basketball & softball. While in Lind, Terry tracked down his prized GTO through the license plate number. He quickly bought it back & in 2012, he would gift his car to his children as an heirloom.

In 1987, Terry returned to the waterfront, taking a job as a Stevedore Superintendent at The Port of Tacoma, where he flourished until his retirement in 2008. After retiring, Terry & Terri took the opportunity to turn their lake cabin into their dream house on Mason Lake. Here, Terry would live out his life with family & loving friends. They traveled frequently to Arizona, Mexico & Hawaii throughout these years.

His grandchildren became the lights of his life. TD was unwavering in his integrity. He was always loving, always gentle, always dignified, never complaining. If you truly knew him, you loved him. We are so very fortunate to have had him. From his hospital bed, some of his last words were, "it's just a part of life." You were a good one. "Ain't that the truth."

Funeral arrangements are being made by Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville. Please join us for Terry's Celebration on Life (Jimmy Buffet-style attire), Friday, November 15 at 3 p.m., American Legion Hall, 106 W. Broadway Ave., Ritzville, WA, 99169. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to help refurbish the Lind Walking Trail in Terry's name. Please send donations to Adam's County Parks & Recreation - District 3, PO Box 365, Lind, WA 99341.