Terri Lyn Thompson

Terri Lyn Thompson, 58, passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2023, after a yearlong battle with Melanoma. Terri was born March 30, 1965, in Pocatello, Idaho to Donald and Thella Christensen. She was born with her twin sister Sue and on the same day as her older brother Steven. Steve wanted a bike but got two little sisters instead. Terri also has two older sisters, Lori and Melody, that she loved very much. When she was four years old, her father died of a heart attack. Her mother married Oakley Archibald a few years later in which she gained three stepsiblings: Bonnie, Buster, and Susan. Oakley loved Terri and her siblings like his own and was a wonderful father to her.

Terri went to Hawthorne Junior High, where she met her future husband, Randy Thompson. They began dating at Hawthorne in 9th grade. They would go on to date through high school with Terri attending Pocatello High School and graduating in 1983. Shortly after graduation, on June 17, 1983, Randy and Terri were married. They were each other’s world. They were opposites in most ways, with Terri making friends and talking to everyone she met and Randy not liking people much at all, but it worked great for them. Through their entire marriage they balanced each other and brought out the best in each other.

After two years of marriage, Terri and Randy welcomed their first child, Kristi Chaliese. A short 14 months after Kristi, Brandon Duane was born. Terri was born to be a mother and was the best there was. Her children were her world and she always made sure they knew that. She would later be the best grandma to seven beautiful souls: Peyton (15), Olivia (14), Callen (12), Reese (11), Carson (11), Scarlett (7), and Ava (5). Terri was a great mother and an even better grandmother. She attended almost every game, performance, and event the grandkids were involved with. She would invite all of them over for movie nights and sleepovers. She loved each one of them deeply and fiercely. She would take the time to make each grandchild feel special and loved. Not many have a grandma as great as she was.

Second to her family was Terri’s love for her career. After raising Kristi and Brandon, Terri attended Idaho State University. She received her degree in Special Education in 2002 and began teaching at Irving Middle School right away. She loved her students and was an exceptional teacher. One of her favorite things to do with her students was to put on a Thanksgiving feast. The kids would help cook a Thanksgiving dinner and each make their own pumpkin pie from scratch. Parents and staff would come and enjoy the feast with the students. It was always a lot of work, but she loved it every year. Terri met some of her very best friends while working at Irving. She loved her Tuesday Therapy group. She truly treasured her friendships and enjoyed her visits with everyone, especially this last year.

If you knew Terri, you know she was sunshine. She was kind to everyone and was always looking for ways to help others. She became mom and grandma to everyone. She radiated goodness and you couldn’t help but love her. She was a genuinely good person and will be greatly missed.

Terri is survived by her husband Randy; two children, Kristi (Casey) Payne and Brandon (Ashley) Thompson; her 7 grandchildren; siblings Steven Christensen, Lori (Dan) Johnson, Melody (Doug) Conlin, Sue Christensen, Bonnie (Lyle) Liston, Joseph “Buster” (Dee) Archibald, Susan (Rod) Sparrow, Rose (Walter) Lish, Donna Thompson (LaGrande Coby), Richard (Elma) Thompson, Denise Stecklein (Keith Bullock); and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her fathers Donald Christensen and Oakley Archibald, mother Thella Archibald, father-in-law Duane Thompson, and mother-in-law Margaret Thompson.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at the Thompson residence, 30 George Loop, Pocatello, Idaho 83202.

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