Terri Lynn (Schmidtberger) Dinkel, age 62, passed away on November 28, 2020 surrounded by family at the Wallace County Community Care Center in Sharon Springs.  She was born on September 21, 1958 in Russell, to Alvin and Marilyn (Glenn) Schmidtberger.  Terri later became a big sister when her brother, Gary, who was born September, 1961.

Terri grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in 1976.  After high school she attended North Central Kansas Technical College in Beloit, studying Business Management.

Terri married Walter Dinkel, Jr. in May, 1977 at the Red Baron in Russell.  Terri and Walt welcomed their son, Duane in 1979 and daughter, Sara in 1981.  They renewed their vows at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Russell in May, 1982.  Terri and family lived in Russell until their relocation to Oakley in 1993.  She moved to the Wallace County Community Care Center in Sharon Springs in May, 2018.

Terri was a member of the United Christian Church in Oakley.  She was also a lifetime member of the Wheatland VFW Auxiliary Post 2864 in Grinnell, and earlier with the Russell VFW Auxiliary Post 6240 in Russell.  Terri served many roles with bowling leagues in both Russell and Oakley.  She was even bowling when she went into labor with her second child, Sara.  Terri didn't go to the hospital until she was finished with her bowling game.  She received many awards and accolades for her exceptional bowling scores.  Terri loved to go camping and fishing with the family where she could take in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.  She enjoyed traveling to Northwest Arkansas to see her aunt and cousins.  Terri loved being with family and friends every chance she would get.  She would commonly be found cruising town with wonderful friends with a Diet Pepsi in hand.  Terri would often reminisce about her childhood and her prideful moments of trouble-making as a teen.  Her other interests included gardening, shopping, reading, watching Hallmark movies and playing computer games.  There was no interest greater to Terri more than her friends and family.  She had a magnetic personality and infectious laugh that drew everybody in.

Terri was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Marilyn (Glenn) Schmidtberger.

Terri is survived by her son, Duane Dinkel and wife Devin of Oakley, their children, Quinn and Connor; daughter, Sara Dinkel of Oakley, her children, Trenity Heatley and Dennis Shepherd; brother, Gary Schmidtberger and wife Deidra, their children, Tianna Dreiling and Tyson Schmidtberger; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Service:  Saturday, 10:00 AM, December 5, 2020 at the United Christian Church of Oakley with Pastor Bob Kelly officiating.  Interment will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Russell.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM, Friday, December 4, 2020 at the Church.

Memorials to the United Christian Church, Wheatland VFW Auxiliary Post 2864 of Grinnell, and Wallace Co. Community Care Center may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS  67748.

Sign the online Guestbook at www.kennedykosterfh.com