Obituary for Terrance Lambert

Terrance Lee Lambert was born to Dorothy Lambert (Boucher) and Dewey Lambert on 9 Aug 1947 in Crookston, MN at 8:55 PM.

What followed was your typically idyllic childhood raised in small town in Northern Minnesota. Often times Dad would speak of his childhood and how it was like Mayberry, only with lots of snow. Running wild through the streets of Oklee, collecting can and bottles, going to the arcade. He told us that growing up in Oklee was actually a hoping town. It was the slice of Americana where we often reminisce. His childhood friends would often take their .22s or bb guns and go to the local grocery store and lean their weapons up by the door and load up on candy and heads out of town in search of varmints to eradicate. They all grew up, graduated, went to college, drafted, served, married and even to this day held court at Lukens in Bemidji where Dad would have his Breakfast Burrito and senior coffee and reminisce with his childhood friends.

He graduated from the Oklee High Bobcats class of ’65.

He left for college a few days after his youngest brother, Dean, was born and to this day is a bit angry he couldn’t get the car for graduation because, “Mom just had to have Dean and couldn’t wait two more days.”

He then attended Bemidji State and studied Math & Physics. He met his Bride of 52 years, Ms. Virginia Gregg at a mixer at the “Gregg’s Resort & Cabins” on the beautiful shores of Lake Bemidji, in the fall of ‘68. Terry Graduated with a degree in Math and Physics in December of ’69. After which he volunteered for the Army.

Terry and Jenna were married on Sep 12, 1970 in Crookston, MN after Terry’s initial training in the Army. As both Terry and Jenna were from solid Catholic families and the oldest and 2nd oldest, respectively of six children in each of their families, and this the first wedding. Needless to say, both families went all out and ALL extended family were in attendance at the nuptials. It was quite the event, including laughing, dancing and a couple of arrests thrown in for good measure.

After the wedding he finished his training in as Field Artilleryman with a specific duty of Honest John Missile Crewman and was stationed in Germany. As the Army often does, trained crewman arrived in Germany and of course there were no Honest John Rockets. So he and his cohort ended up in S1 (personnel) section as Administrative Assistants. Jenna arrived in Germany shortly after his arrival and soon after her arrival their first child, Justin was born Stuttgart, Germany.

Dad told the story of how when it was getting close to re-enlistment, the “re-up” Sargeant didn’t reach out and have him come by to talk about his career in the Army. He ended up running into the Sargeant in the PX and he asked him why? The Sargeant said, “If any one can make in the real word, it is you Lambert” Dad thought it was the nicest thing anyone said to him in the Military.

He was discharged in 1971 and moved to Minnesota and eventually settled in Eagan, MN. Terry took a job as a Computer Programmer with Univac. In Aug of 1973, Nichole was born in Shakopee, MN and this trio just became a quartet.

Terry became the quintessential father, with some of the fondest memories of wrestling on the floor with the two little towheads after running to the door as soon as Dad came home from work. Then as families naturally progress, the quartet added one more to its final number as a quintet. With the arrival of Trevor John (TJ) in October of 1977, and soon as TJ could walk, he too became part of the: “Welcome Dad Home from Work Game.”

Mom would be in the kitchen making dinner, Dad would come home, we would run to the door and then wrestle for a few minutes. We would all settle down and surprise, Mom made spaghetti, (at least three times a week). Family dinner, clean up, sports, TJ and Nikki would fight over who got the little chair (now the grandchildren fight over it).

Years later, on a hunting trip Dad remarked, “I couldn’t wait to get home from work for you kids to run to me, it was the highlight of my day.” Looking back, the one thing they gave us was a perfect childhood and for that we can never truly repay.

The next years we were in a blur of Hockey Rinks, Figure Skating Practice, Baseball, Softball, school functions, even a tuba in the basement and even a French horn. Dad was there, rarely if ever did he miss a thing. If it was 5:00 AM Figure skating practice before school, he was there even though they wouldn’t let them watch practice. If the boys needed a drop off at school or a 5:30 AM weightlifting session before school, no problem. Every game, every practice, every choir concert, Mom and Dad were there.

The two of them should be case study in childrearing. Just the right amount of discipline, patience, love and kindness with the underlying expectation that you will complete your homework, work hard, go to college and be productive member of society. It wasn’t uncommon for neighborhood kids to be at the house for dinner and become accepted as part of the family. It worked, all three kids a College Graduates and are successful in their given careers of choice, but most importantly they still love their parents dearly.

Jenna and Terry’s joy and love of family knew no bounds with the arrival of Grandchildren starting in 1996 and were blessed an additional of 11 Grandchildren. There they continued to attend all the Grandkids, recitals, hockey games, volleyball tournaments, baseball games, coronation ceremonies and even the dreaded High School Graduations with those big suburban classes, but, they were there to capture that one, important moment for their kids, grandkids and two great grandchildren.

Over the years we all attended weddings and we were able to see the couples dance. We have all seen it a hundred times before. The DJ announces that all married couples come up, plays a song and those married less than year sit down, then 5 years, 10 years, etc.. Over the years we would see our parents slowly become the longest standing couple. At Kim and Jade’s wedding a few years back they were the last couple and they asked him what the key to a long and happy marriage and as a man of few words, he said “Keep your mouth shut”

They had tough times too, those in family know about. Sadly, by today’s standards either one of them would have justified in walking away. But they didn’t. Both, in each other’s time of need, choose to stay and turn a promise made to promise kept. Mom and Dad made 50 years and they were short of officially making 53 years by only 15, short, days and there is lesson here for everyone .

People judge success in life by all metrics, Terry was not a wealthy man by most standards, but we can say that he always provided, none of us ever went hungry, nor were we ever missing something we honestly needed, maybe it was a new hockey stick, or correctly sized figured skates, calculator, you name it. However, I think the most powerful metric of success was the last few days of his life. His Children, Grandchildren, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, and people Dad called family, traveled from all over the world to be there with him in his last moments.

Dad battled COPD for the last years of his life. The two days preceding up to his death, the vast majority of the family were around his bed side, he was lucid, engaging, and had the one liners, we all knew and love. He had a great weekend, it was emotional, people came by and everyone knew it was a goodbye and at one point I counted over thirty people at their home. So, on Monday, 28 Aug 23, at 10:16 PM this wealthy, wealthy man passed from this world, peacefully, surrounded by his family.

The most succinct epitaph / story to sum up our beloved father was when Great Aunt Peggy Malone once commented about Dad’s eternal optimism. “Lambert” she said, “It would not surprise me to find you digging in pile of manure alongside the road because you honestly believe there has to be a horse in there somewhere.”

Preceded in death by his parents, Dewey & Dorothy Lambert, and brothers, Michael & Dean Lambert.

Survived by his loving wife, Jenna; children, Justin (Yuli), Nikki (Sung) Chang, T.J. (Kendra), Debbie; Nick (Third Son), grandchildren, Taylor (Sam) Muska, Jack, Josh, Briana, Joey, Grace (Josh) Green, Sammy, Jonathan, Luci, Kenley & Kayden; great-grandchildren, Lena & Isaiah; siblings, Reinold, Bonnie Paquin, Margaret (Stu) Peterson, Donna (Steve) Linder; and many nieces, nephews & friends

Visitation on Monday, September 4, 2023 from 5-8PM with a time of sharing at 7PM at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 34 2nd Street NE, Osseo, MN 55369.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:30AM Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 9100 93rd Ave N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 with a visitation 1 hour prior to Mass at church.

Internment at St. Vincent's Cemetery in Osseo and please join for lunch after the internment in Regan Hall.