Terech exhibits ‘real’ church lady qualities

By Karin Burke | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, January 30, 2007

For many Minnesotans, early memories are made within communities of faith. We identify with the ceremonies and meanings of church holidays, first communions and last rites.

We remember Sunday school, doodles on church bulletins, time honored red Jell-O served at funerals, church picnics, and bible studies alike. Bedrocks to these details are the church basement ladies.

They scrub the kitchen floors, make the buttered sandwiches and have a designated seat in the congregation. They know the church calendar and have a hand in many of the committees. They make coleslaw and are willing to baby-sit.

The bestselling book “Growing Up Lutheran,” by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson was a hit nation-wide, but found particular resonance in the Midwest. Adapted to a musical, “Church Basement Ladies,” the stories and memories and mock-ups of the ladies in the church have thrilled audiences for more than five years. The Fargo Theatre ran “Church Basement Ladies” Jan. 11-14, and as a part of the promotion of the production held a “Favorite Church Basement Lady” contest. Carol Terech of Fergus Falls was one of five women honored in the contest, receiving honorable mention.

The contest was sponsored by the Fargo Theatre and KSGO Radio. Women were nominated by friends who sent in a photo and a short description of their favorite church basement lady’s credentials. The winner and those who received honorable mention were given two tickets to the show.

Victory Catholic Church. Ellen Knudson said that Carol fit her idea of a church basement lady perfectly.

“She scrubs the kitchen floor every Monday morning. She is on call for every funeral and fish fry. Everybody knows Carol, and has seen her running around with a big bowl of coleslaw” Knudson said. “You just can’t get a more perfect example of a church basement lady.”

Carol herself describes a church basement lady as “someone who likes to be of service. Not somebody who runs the church, but somebody who always likes to give a little help.”

Carol helps by cleaning the church kitchen, serving funeral lunches for over four years, hosting the family session for lunch once a month, helping out with the first communion, and serving as president of St. Clair’s Mission Circle.

“Everybody knows me for wearing my stocking cap, down on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor.”

She hands out the bars that church members have baked, sets up and breaks down the tables for church events.

Carol moved to Fergus Falls eight years ago from Boston. She is originally from Richfield, and lived in Bloomington for many years with her husband.

Following her husband’s death, she moved to Boston in 1995, to be closer to her two daughters. Carol remembered Fergus Falls when she thought of moving home to settle in Minnesota.

Her family lived in Detroit Lakes when she was in the fourth grade, and Carol had good memories of small town life and the beauty of the area. She and her husband had spent time in Fergus Falls as well, staying at the old Holiday Inn and eating at the Pizza Hut. She describes life in Fergus Falls by saying “rush hour lasts five minutes!” and warmly praising the friendships and community she has found here.

“I don’t want to talk and blow my own horn about this award. It’s not hard to do what I do,” she said. “It’s easy. We are a reflection of what all of our friends are. I have such dear, dear friends here, and I am lucky to be part of this beautiful community of Fergus Falls; it makes you want to do things for such beautiful people.”