Tera Dawn Letzring

Tera Letzring, age 46 from Pocatello, ID, was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on Friday, January 19, 2024. Her bright light will be missed but we take comfort in knowing she is at home with her Savior.

Tera Dawn (Harding) Letzring was born April 30, 1977 in Portland, OR to Glenn and Nancy (Miller) Harding. The Harding family moved to The Dalles, OR when Tera was in 5th grade. Their family spent their summers camping and a special family week at the beach. Tera graduated as the Valedictorian for The Dalles High School class of 1995. Tera graduated with a B.A. from University of Puget Sound. Tera served a year with JVC (Jesuit volunteer Corp) in San Antonio, Tx. This experience had a significant impact on her life and laid a foundation for her servant heart. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology at University of California, Riverside. In 2005 Tera began her career as a professor at Idaho State University and she recently began serving as the chair of the psychology department. She genuinely loved teaching. One of her passions was to guide her students with their studies and to help them achieve their goals. Tera was a part of a prayer shawl group at Grace Lutheran and spent many hours crocheting prayer shawls. She was also a part of Christian Bible study group at ISU. Tera was a significant Christian influence in the world around her and in everyone she met.

Tera met her “match” when she and Darin Letzring met online in 2002. He put his order in as he prayed for specific things – God matched him with the perfect woman for him. Their relationship began with a cheesecake dessert and hikes to beautiful mountain tops. Darin was deployed shortly thereafter, and their relationship continued via snail mail and purposeful conversations. When he came home, he planned to propose to Tera on a gorgeous mountain hike, but it was rainy and cloudy. Darin said, “We will get above the clouds” and it was beautiful! That became one of the many phrases used throughout their relationship in the last 20 years. He asked her if they could watch all the sunsets the rest of their lives together, and she said yes. Darin and Tera were married on May 8, 2004.

Darin and Tera were blessed with 2 amazing sons, Paul and Noah. Tera was an amazing mother and was the anchor that kept their family tight. She was the master organizer of calendars and a chef of delicious healthy meals, including guiding Noah to Camp Perkins chili cook-off success. Tera was found cheering from the side lines for soccer, basketball, scouts and so many other activities that the boys are in – rain/sleet/snow or shine! Their family vision was to plant seeds in others for the holy spirit to grow. Tera was purposeful in how she mothered her sons. Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Their church family at Grace Lutheran is an imperative part of their lives. Tera served where and how God called.

Tera treasured family and friends. Time spent with them was always a priority and a joy. Every day at Camp Perkins was a great day! One of Tera’s favorite family activities was Christmas Tree Day, where they would all go pick out a Christmas tree, cut it down and haul it home. Christmas dinners were often spent with friends around their table thanking God for their many blessings.

Tera’s focus word this year was “celebrate.” She made it a point to celebrate blessings and successes in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”

Tera truly loved the outdoors. Mountain views with beautiful lakes were her favorite, especially when accompanied by an amazing sunset. Along with hiking and camping, cross-country skiing and working out were some of her chosen physical activities. Her favorite places for XC skiing were Camp Perkins and Island Park along with the hot chocolate afterwards! This past summer, the Letzring family including Flash the dog, took a trip to Oregon to see her family and spend some time on the beach finding sand dollars and at the tide pools near Haystack Rock, sharing one of Tera’s childhood favorite places with her boys. Tera and Darin recently accomplished some things that had been on Tera’s list – whale watching and swimming with dolphins. In addition to the mountains, Tera was truly inspired by the incredible lives of whales. They spent a considerable amount of their family time in beautiful places created by God – enjoyed and appreciated greatly. Some of those places included home, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and Alaska Basin, Camp Perkins and the many beautiful lakes in the Sawtooth Mountains, Island Park, Hawaii and Mexico. Tera’s physical presence continues here on earth in the eyes, hearts, and skin of others; these beautiful parts of her physical body will allow others to hike along a beautiful mountain creek for a summit view of God’s amazing world or to simply read a book. Tera appreciated quiet mornings!

Tera is survived by her loving husband, Darin and their sons, Paul and Noah; her father, Glenn Harding; older sister, Paula (Cory) Erickson- Julian and Makenzie; younger sister, Jill (Ken) Wells; Aunt and Uncle Connie and Ed Morrison, Aunt Francis Jewell, Aunt Melissa Elmore; and the extended Harding and Letzring families.

A celebration of Tera’s life will be held on Monday, February 12, 2024, at 4:00 P.M. at Grace Lutheran Church, 1350 Baldy Ave. Pocatello, Idaho, with a live stream option available. In Lieu of flowers, if you feel led, Tera’s family would encourage you to donate memorials to Grace Lutheran School, Camp Perkins, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Rock of Ages school in Uganda, or the ISU Psychology department.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Condolences may be shared at www.wilkscolonialchapel.com

Camp Perkins – https://www.campperkins.org/donate.html

Jesuit Volunteer Corps – https://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/support-jvc

Grace Lutheran School – https://gls.gracepocatello.org/donate/

ISU Department of Psychology – http://tinyurl.com/yc5khdb3

Rock of Ages – Please call Gabe Flicker 208-241-7088