2020 Person of the Year Nominee: Karen Terhune

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
 
“She’s a sweetheart. … She just helps everyone in town,” said Minnie Quick, of her friend and former co-worker Karen Terhune. Everyone who knows Terhune — even mere acquaintances — knows that she is a really nice person, but what people probably don’t realize is how much she does for the community, according to Quick and Joni Kachelhoffer. 
They both acknowledged that Terhune’s positive outlook on life and helpful attitude make the world a better and happier place. Terhune is always welcoming newcomers and visiting those who are isolated— helping in whatever way she can. Her uplifting smile and demeanor are a gift to all she meets, Kachelhoffer said. 
“She touches people’s lives in a very personal way,” Kachelhoffer said. 
“Sometimes she just shows up when I need her the most,” Quick added.
Quick worked with Terhune at Wyoming Refinery Co. for over 20 years, and they were friends. 
“Karen was always upbeat and a hard worker. She made working at the refinery a fun place to work,” Quick said. 
Whenever they finished work early, instead of sitting around doing nothing, Terhune and Quick would go the extra mile and wash windows or clean up — anything to keep busy and be helpful. Around Christmas time, the two women worked together to add some holiday spirit to the refinery by organizing an annual Christmas party for the children of refinery employees under the age of 12. They bought $5 gifts for every child out of their own pockets and made various goodies for the kids. While the kids opened presents, Terhune and Quick, with the help of the older kids, organized games and played Christmas songs. 
When birthdays rolled around, Terhune faithfully baked a cake for the office to enjoy and Quick provided homemade ice cream.
“Everybody just loved it. It was just a fun place to work,” Quick said. “We did a lot of fun things together.”
Since Quick has retired, the two still keep in touch, and Terhune frequently checks on Quick and her husband, Bob, and helps them in whatever way she can, whether it’s cleaning the house, shoveling snow or running errands. 
“She’s like a daughter. Our kids don’t live here, so she just takes over,” Quick said. 
Quick’s husband suffers from Alzheimer’s, and Terhune willingly takes him to doctor’s appointments or fun road trips such as ice cream at Hi-16 or lunch at his favorite restaurant, Dairy Queen. Bob said Terhune is a “caring” and “very good friend.” 
“If anybody needs groceries or needs to go to the doctor, she’ll do it,” Quick said. “It just means so much.” 
And it’s not just the Quicks she helps, it’s “everybody that comes along,” Quick said. 
Kachelhoffer first met Terhune while working concessions during their sons’ baseball game. Terhune made friendly conversation in an effort to know Kachelhoffer better. 
“She just made me feel very welcomed,” Kachelhoffer said. 
Kachelhoffer often saw Terhune walking around town with a group of friends and noticed that, later, she began walking by herself, so Kachelhoffer offered to be her new walking partner, and that soon developed into a deeper friendship. 
“We’ve just had a chance to share a lot of things about life,” she said. 
Kachelhoffer described Terhune as someone who, when she sees something that needs to be done, she just does it. She recalled the time she was putting up lights on her house, and Terhune stopped by so they could go walking together. Before they walked, Terhune jumped right in and helped decorate.
“That’s just how she is,” Kachelhoffer said. “She is such a giving person — so compassionate to others.” 
Kachelhoffer said she couldn’t make a list of everything Terhune does because it wouldn’t be possible, but Terhune can always be seen lending a hand, especially during community service projects at her church, Gateway Fellowship. She offered her services at the annual car-care clinic on Dec. 12, and she also helps prepare the community Christmas dinner provided by the church. Quick recalled that, one year, Terhune peeled and cooked 100 pounds of potatoes for the dinner. 
Perhaps it’s Terhune’s love for people and the community that makes it so easy for her to help. Terhune said this “close-knit” community is friendly, even when they are complete strangers, and always willing to help. But the larger component behind her caring heart is her faith. Terhune said she felt like God told her to be kind by visiting others and helping fulfill their needs, and she prays every day for God to show her what needs to
be done and does her best to listen to his answer. Kachelhoffer added that Terhune’s “strong faith” helps carry her through life’s challenges and sets a great example to those around her. 
“She reminds me to be a good, kind person … to look out of my world into someone else’s to see if I can help,” Kachelhoffer said. “I think hanging out with Karen just makes me a better person.” 
Terhune also coordinates the “My Golden Valentine” project in Newcastle spearheaded by the KSLT radio station on Power 107.1 and is the secretary for Cambria Bowhunters, where she helps arrange and advertise archery competitions. Although Terhune doesn’t want recognition, her friends believe she is more than deserving of it.
“She really adds to our
community by making us a
welcoming place,” Kachelhoffer said.