Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Teresa Kathryn Keuntjes-Hemminger, 59, passed away at St Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Montana on July 15, 2017.

Teresa was born on February 1, 1958 in Toledo, Ohio, the second child of four born to Glenn Leo and Mary Rose (McDonald) Garen. She graduated from Manteka, California High School in 1976. She married Rocky W. Keuntjes, Sr. in 1979. Three children were born to this couple, Rocky, Kristina and Jeremy. The couple later divorced. After her children became school age, Teresa began a career with the US Postal service, delivering mail in the Barstow, California area for the next 20 years, retiring in 2008. Teresa was always looking out for others. She would carry a supply of little suckers to give to the children on her route, but only if they stayed within the safety of the fence of their yard. She was always taking someone under her wing "adopting" extra sons, daughters and grandchildren along life's journey.

Teresa loved doing arts and crafts and was very creative in decorating fireplaces and making themed diaper cakes. She loved rain storms with thunder and lightning. Whenever an especially loud boom came, she would comment that someone in heaven just got a strike while bowling. She had a very special collection of angels, which she started after the accidental death of her 7-year-old Jeremy. She became an angel here on earth to her son and daughter and found so much joy in each of her grandchildren. On February 14, 2004 she married Thomas L. Hemminger. She and Tom enjoyed trips to State-Line, Nevada and loved to dance, especially country dances. Their signature dance was the Strawberry Waltz. She truly was the love of his life. Shortly after their marriage, Tom was deployed to Iraq for most of their first year of marriage and then again for another year right after the couple moved to Worland in 2008.

She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Jeremy in 1995.

Survivors include her husband, Tom Hemminger of Worland; children, Rocky W. Keuntjes, Jr. of Buffalo, Wyoming, Kristina (Michael) Allen of Ft. Louis, Washington, step-daughter, Julie Hemminger of Ashtabula, Ohio; grandchildren, Katalina, Aryanna, Jennifer, Sullie-Ann, Trenton, Ivan and Jaykob; brothers, Ross (Debbie) Garen of Worland, Glenn Garen of Barstow, California, sister, Debra Wood of Barstow and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held 10:00 am Friday, July 21, 2017 at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Louie Pantelis officiating. Inurnment will take place at the Mountain View Memorial Park in Barstow, California at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Bryant Funeral Home to help with expenses. Online condolences may be made at bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.