Debbie Terech

On the morning of July 27, 2021 Debbie Terech (nee Smith) took her last breath after losing a long fought battle with emphysema. Debbie was born Debra Ann Johnson in Glendive, Montana on June 25, 1955 to parents Duane and Mary Johnson (Tennant), the second of four children.

Not long after graduating from Thermopolis High School Debbie married her first husband Mark Smith. They had two sons, Todd and Randy, who became her world. Tragically, Debbie lost both sons only 5 short years apart. Todd in 2011 and Randy in 2016. This devastated her. Fortunately, she did not have to go thru it alone. She had the love of her present husband Joe, who she met in 2000 and married in a small ceremony on the fourth of July 2006, her 3 siblings and too many friends to count.

After living in Riverton, Rock Springs and briefly in Arkansas, Debbie finally chose Evanston as her home in 1987, where she went to work at the Uinta County Herald. After 14 years she decided to go to work for the Evanston Business Leadership Network (BLN), the place she was meant to be. For nearly 13 years she worked tirelessly educating the public, proving how people with disabilities are really no different from the rest of us. She organized annual banquets inviting marvelous guest speakers and the outstanding people, mentors and businesses that made it all worthwhile. In 2018 she was awarded the 20th anniversary “Spirit of the BLN” award after previously being given the Evanston “Citizen of the Year” award in 2012. She then moved on to the Uinta Senior Center where her illness began to accelerate, forcing her to work from home as a job coach, continuing what she loved best – helping others.

She and her husband decided the altitude of Evanston was hindering her well being so they relocated to their home in Mesquite, Nevada and spent her last 7 months where the milder winter and lower elevation were more tolerable.

Debbie is preceded in death by her sons Todd and Randy Smith and her parents Duane and Mary Johnson. Debbie is survived by her husband Joe, her brothers Brad and Jamie of Dubois, Wy., her sister Shelly Rock (Johnson), Shelly's husband Jim Rock and their daughters Sara and Beth, all of Vernal, Utah, her grandson Connor, granddaughter Kaitlyn and many more extended family members.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday August 3 from 5 to 7 pm and from 11am-Noon on August 4. Services will be held on Wednesday August 4 at noon. Viewing and services will be held at Crandall Funeral Home in Evanston. A celebration of life luncheon will be held at the Evanston Machine Shop at 1:30 following the service.