We lost our sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. Monday the 14th of February, Kate Ternes, loving daughter, sister, auntie, niece and friend, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 34.
Kate was born in Bismarck on December 29, 1987, to Glen and Cindy (Schwehr) Ternes. Following graduation from Century High School in 2006, her love of the mountains and a great run through the powder drew Kate to Boulder, Colorado. Here she attended Colorado State University before moving back to North Dakota to be closer to her family. Family was the most important thing to Kate; she repeatedly thanked God for this gift.
Kate was always adventurous, courageous, and determined to make her own way; aiming to be her best. Kate enjoyed studying, serving and snowboarding her way through life. Kate loved to grow succulents, often gifting them to friends and family. You would often hear her say she had a “plant problem.”
If you were ever hungry, Kate would whip up some blueberry ricotta pancakes or huevos rancheros to settle your cravings. She was a superb chef. Kate absolutely loved animals and was the proud pet parent to her dogs Uma and Emmy and two cats, Meredith and Aidan.
She inspired so many with her positivity and insight. She was accepted into the nursing program at University of Mary where she endeavored to learn the skills to help others through their illnesses. Kate was always reaching out to other survivors and encouraging and guiding them through the steps she had already taken. She inspired confidence and calm as she forged past all of the hurdles thrown her way, until our Lord called her home. The way she touched and loved those around her will continue to reverberate even after her passing.
Kate was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Edward and Gwendolyn (Fagan) Schwehr; aunts, Jeanette (Schwehr) Price and Marilyn (Schwehr) Ast; niece, Mikaela Morgan Torok; and cousins, Jeremy Schwehr, Craig Schwehr, Misty Schwehr, Cody Jacobs and Denise (Maher) Blair.
Kate is survived by her paternal grandparents, Aloys and Alice (Gustin) Ternes; parents, Glen and Cindy (Schwehr) Ternes; sister, Jessica (Ternes) Torok; brother, Lucas Ternes; nieces, Madeline Torok and Brooklynn Ternes; nephews, Conrad and Gavin Torok and Carson Pollum; great-niece, Arianna Torok; as well as a very large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins.
A visitation for Kate will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 318 Second Street SW, Steele, with a vigil and rosary to follow.
Mass of Christian burial, officiated by Father Peter Sharpe, will follow at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Steele, with a reception to follow at the church.
Kate was an avid fundraiser for METAvivor, supporting research for cures and treatments for metastatic breast cancer. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Kate’s honor to: https://www.metavivor.org/take-action/donate/
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Kate Ternes, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
