Helpful, talkative, Terry Friberg will be missed

Terry Friberg was inducted into the Spokane Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2002. If there was a hall of fame for helping others and talking your ear off, Friberg would be inducted into that as well.

“I think the words you will hear repeatedly describing Terry are ‘talking nonstop’ and ‘helpful and caring,’ ” said neighbor Joyce Fromhold.

Friberg died unexpectedly on Nov. 1. He was found in his truck in an area bowling alley parking lot. His twin brother Gary Friberg said he had a peaceful look on his face. Terry Friberg was 57.

Fromhold’s sentiments were shared by others. She said Friberg’s memorial service was standing-room full and many people stepped up to the podium to share their thoughts. “His kindness in our neighborhood was felt frequently by most of us,” said Fromhold.

Using his tractor, Friberg cleared snow from driveways, moved heavy objects and dug holes for whoever, whenever. “On a hot summer day when I was mowing my lawn with a walking mower, Terry came buzzing through my front yard with his riding mower, completing the task in a short time,” Fromhold said. “He would offer to mow an empty lot and not accept even gas money. His kindness abounded.”

Neighbor Jimmy Parker agreed. “He was always eager to help. If I had to say in one word what Terry was about, and what was the most important to him, I would have to say people.”

Friberg was a Valley boy. He graduated from Central Valley High school and worked for area bowling alleys until he began his 25-year career as a Central Valley School District custodian.

Employees at Keystone Elementary wrote their memories of Friberg in a card. “He was always so willing to help out when I needed a hand. I talked to him about coming to plow my garden area in the spring …” Lisa Randall wrote.

“Terry was always willing to help someone in need, no matter what the need was, he was always there and always friendly,” Connie Busch wrote. “I can’t even remember how many times he would stop what he was doing to charge my car battery because I always left my lights on. In the rain or freezing cold, he volunteered and never complained. He cared about everyone he worked with.”

Co-worker Sally Murphy said, “He loved to talk and find out all he could about you. Most of all he loved to help those in need.” She added Friberg cleared snow so others would be safe at school as well as at Murphy’s and other teachers’ homes without charging. “In the summer he tilled their gardens and helped me make a space for a garden at my house,” Murphy said, “At school he even helped the teachers make a small flower garden so the kids could see how the plants grow …” Friberg also deeply loved and was loved by his family. “I loved him,” said Gary Friberg. “He was an interesting person. He would help anyone with a problem … he’d always be right there. This help would come with a price though, he’d start talking – a lot.”

Friberg’s nephew, Garen Friberg, agreed that his uncle would help anybody at any time. “He offered to help me rebuild my truck motor. We spent countless hours working on it with him teaching me how every single working part functioned,” said Garen Friberg, “This was Terry’s most known trade: his ability to tell a story or a bunch more information than you needed on any given subject. But we listened because we loved him.”

Terry Friberg’s wife of 14 years, Jerri, will miss his talking and kindness. Now she does the talking in the form of the written word. She writes a letter to him every night and she wears his wedding ring around her neck. While many people say Jerri made Terry a better person, Jerri feels blessed to have been his wife. “He was a very special husband, best friend and companion to me,” she said. “He was always there for me and never showed any anger and always had patience with me even when I burnt his dinners or almost backed his truck over a small cliff.”

He was also a great father to his son Keith and his stepchildren Michelle and Richard.

Besides Friberg’s passion for people, he also had a passion for bowling, which he began at 9. For the last 40 years, he had been heavily involved in area bowling associations and leagues. Friberg and his wife also sponsored bowling teams.

Friberg bowled 16 300 games, four 299 games, a 298 game, and two 800 series. He also gave words of advice to fellow bowlers. He once told Dale Carlsen, current president of Players and Spectators 12 League “the next time, move two boards left or control your speed because your adrenalin is pumping too much.’ It was good advice,” Carlsen said. “Bowl on buddy … we all miss you!”

Friberg also loved farming, his tractor, his dogs, barbecuing and vacationing at Depoe Bay, Ore., where he would watch the waves for hours. “He loved his job as head custodian at Keystone and was very fond of all the teachers,” said Jerri Friberg, “They were like his second family.”