Theressa Vander Stelt, 88, of Meridian, Idaho went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 15, 2015. She passed away peacefully, holding the hand of her beloved husband of 70 years.

Theressa was born to Ben and Elizabeth Teunissen on September 28, 1926 in Sanborn, Iowa. In 1935, her family moved to Artesia, California to escape the hardships caused by the Dust Bowl. In 1944, she graduated from Valley Christian High School, and a year later she married her high school sweet heart, Henry Vander Stelt. They had a happy and loving marriage and were blessed with four children.

In 1952, they started a small dairy in Spring Valley, California. In 1956 they moved their dairy to San Marcos, CA where they lived for 22 years. While in San Marcos they made many lifelong friends and worshipped at the Escondido Christian Reformed Church. In 1978, they moved to Kuna, Idaho where they continued to farm before thoroughly enjoying retirement. The final three years of her life were spent at Spring Creek Manor in Meridian, where their warm and welcoming staff and residents became like a second family to Henry and Theressa.

Theressa was very active in her church and was always willing to share her faith. She started a mothers club at Calvin Christian School in Escondido, CA and assisted the school by organizing the purchase of desks and a bus. After their move to Idaho, she was instrumental in the establishment of Cloverdale United Reformed Church where she and her family have worshipped for the last 35 years. During World War II, she worked for Douglas Aircraft as a "Rosie the Riveter". Theressa was known for her hospitality, love of music, and kindness to strangers. She was never happier than when she could feed someone. She was also an avid reader and loved to pass on a good book. During her retirement years, she enjoyed traveling the world, countless hours of fishing, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Joel Vander Stelt, brother Bill, and sisters Leona, Bernice, and Mina. She is survived by her husband Henry Vander Stelt, her children Darwin (Jane) Vander Stelt, Dennis (Tracy) Vander Stelt, Henry (Robin) Vander Stelt, Bernice (Bruce) Cooper, 17 grandchildren, and 50 great grandchildren. She is also survived by sister Betty Wigboldy, and brothers Arthur Teunissen and Bernard Teunissen.

Services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday April 22, at Cloverdale United Reformed Church located at 3580 N. Cloverdale Rd in Boise, ID. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boise Rescue Mission. Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen. An online guestbook is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

Service Information Funeral Service Wednesday April 22, 2015 12:00 PM Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel 415 12th Ave South Nampa, ID 83651