Terry Lee Kirkhart
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Terry Lee Kirkhart, 64, of Rapid City, S.D., died on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 while hiking at Harney Peak.
Terry was born Nov. 28, 1947 in Hillsboro, the son of Clarence V. and Laveda Margene (Roush) Kirkhart.
He graduated from high school in Lynchburg. Terry married Judy Jandes on July 19, 1967 in Allensburg, spanning over 30 years of marriage, while raising their family of five children together.
Terry worked in his local community until he joined the Air Force on Sept. 9, 1975, shortly before his 28th birthday. He spent most of his 20-year career as Crew Chief on H1-Heuy and H53-Jolly Green Helicopters. He was stationed at Minot, ND, RAF at Woodbridge, England, then a tour of Desert Storm as Air Rescue and later retired from Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD on June 30, 1995. Terry went on to pursue and achieve a master’s degree from the University of South Dakota. Through family and friends, Terry met and married his soulmate, Ranae Schrier. Recently, Terry found himself back in uniform for the U.S. National Parks Service, as interpreter at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Everyone says Terry was a great man, but to anyone who encountered Terry in their lives, they knew he was the kind of person who inspired people; not by words, but through actions. What leaves an indelible mark in all our hearts is the way he loved every single person in a way that they felt his sincerity. He didn’t just do things for people, he did it in such a unique and thoughtful way, with child-like innocence. Some say it was silly, embarrassing, even cheesy. To his loved ones, it was amazing and the most memorable. This was a man who never hesitated to show his love. He was a man of few words, but his actions spoke volumes. His passion in his work inspired two of his children to join the military and follow in his footsteps. He didn’t tell people how to live their lives; he inspired them. Terry’s life was spent pouring his heart upon his family, his friends and anyone who had the privilege of meeting him.
He is survived by his wife, Ranae Schrier of Rapid City; four children, Greg (Nikki) Kirkhart of Bossier City, La., Kevin (Agnes) Kirkhart of Concord, Calif., Heather (Scott) Trowbridge of North Bend, Ore. and Angelia Kirkhart of Oahu, Hawaii; his sister, CarolAnn (Jerry) Dyer of Hillsboro; nine grandchildren, Joshua, Matthew, Ryan, Jake, Aiden, Audrey, Jon, Jason and Taylor; and two step-grandchildren, Kyrdan and Trenton.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Wendy Lee Kirkhart in 2004.
Visitation was at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City on Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-7 p.m. and then for one hour before services. Services were held 10 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2012 at the funeral home, with Howard Schrier officiating. Full military honors were provided by Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard.
A memorial has been established to Storybook Island of Rapid City.
Friends may sign Terry’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.[[In-content Ad]]
Terry was born Nov. 28, 1947 in Hillsboro, the son of Clarence V. and Laveda Margene (Roush) Kirkhart.
He graduated from high school in Lynchburg. Terry married Judy Jandes on July 19, 1967 in Allensburg, spanning over 30 years of marriage, while raising their family of five children together.
Terry worked in his local community until he joined the Air Force on Sept. 9, 1975, shortly before his 28th birthday. He spent most of his 20-year career as Crew Chief on H1-Heuy and H53-Jolly Green Helicopters. He was stationed at Minot, ND, RAF at Woodbridge, England, then a tour of Desert Storm as Air Rescue and later retired from Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD on June 30, 1995. Terry went on to pursue and achieve a master’s degree from the University of South Dakota. Through family and friends, Terry met and married his soulmate, Ranae Schrier. Recently, Terry found himself back in uniform for the U.S. National Parks Service, as interpreter at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Everyone says Terry was a great man, but to anyone who encountered Terry in their lives, they knew he was the kind of person who inspired people; not by words, but through actions. What leaves an indelible mark in all our hearts is the way he loved every single person in a way that they felt his sincerity. He didn’t just do things for people, he did it in such a unique and thoughtful way, with child-like innocence. Some say it was silly, embarrassing, even cheesy. To his loved ones, it was amazing and the most memorable. This was a man who never hesitated to show his love. He was a man of few words, but his actions spoke volumes. His passion in his work inspired two of his children to join the military and follow in his footsteps. He didn’t tell people how to live their lives; he inspired them. Terry’s life was spent pouring his heart upon his family, his friends and anyone who had the privilege of meeting him.
He is survived by his wife, Ranae Schrier of Rapid City; four children, Greg (Nikki) Kirkhart of Bossier City, La., Kevin (Agnes) Kirkhart of Concord, Calif., Heather (Scott) Trowbridge of North Bend, Ore. and Angelia Kirkhart of Oahu, Hawaii; his sister, CarolAnn (Jerry) Dyer of Hillsboro; nine grandchildren, Joshua, Matthew, Ryan, Jake, Aiden, Audrey, Jon, Jason and Taylor; and two step-grandchildren, Kyrdan and Trenton.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Wendy Lee Kirkhart in 2004.
Visitation was at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City on Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-7 p.m. and then for one hour before services. Services were held 10 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2012 at the funeral home, with Howard Schrier officiating. Full military honors were provided by Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard.
A memorial has been established to Storybook Island of Rapid City.
Friends may sign Terry’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.[[In-content Ad]]