Terri L. Rider

Terri Lu (Orr) Rider was born to John W. Orr and Evelyn McKinley Orr on May 18, 1964, and entered into eternal glory on December 16, 2022. She grew up in the house her father John built in the Keystone neighborhood and graduated from Northwest High School in 1983 where she was active in many activities, including the marching and pep bands.

Terri attended Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) where she studied art and worked as a resident assistant in the residence halls. It was also where she met the man who would eventually become her husband of 33 ½ years. Terri transferred to the University of Nebraska where she attended classes in Lincoln and Omaha in pursuit of her degree in interior design, which she attained in 1989.

Two months later, Terri married Ed Rider Jr. on July 29, 1989. Due to heart valve replacement surgery in 1987, Terri and Ed built their family through adoption. Abby came into their lives and hearts in 1995, followed by Nate in 2000. Through the years, the family spent many, many hours in gyms and at ball fields coaching and supporting the kids through their many athletic activities. Terri did an incredible job on keeping Abby and Nate active during the summer months, signing them up for a variety of daytime activities, including volunteering. Those volunteering opportunities have led Abby and Nate into careers that serve others who are less fortunate and in need.

She was so happy to welcome Jeremy Kemp into our family. Jeremy officially became part of the family when he married Abby on June 2, 2018, but had endeared himself to all of us well before that date. Terri found her true calling on August 18, 2021, as a grandma when Kashton Rider Kemp graced us with his arrival. She treasured every second that she got to spend with Kash and will be enjoying every milestone from paradise.

Terri enjoyed sharing her artistic talents through repurposing odd objects into decorative pieces for her garden and Christmas tree decorations. She took great pride in making things for her mother Evelyn and here sisters Tay and Tracey. Terri was known for having paint, and a lot of it, on her casual clothes. She was once approached in a store and asked where she had purchased her shirt, thinking it was a design that she bought off the rack.

Terri was always thinking of others first. She spent hours each week as a girl scout troop leader and “volunteered” her and Ed to manage the concession stand at Mercy High School for four years. In preparation for her last surgery, she was diligent about getting things in order at work, cleaning the house and even addressing all of the envelopes for Christmas cards. She ordered and wrapped all of the Christmas gifts, which still sit under the tree. The night before surgery, she was still making dough for specific types of cookies for the family to enjoy.

Terri is reunited with her father John W. Orr and father-in-law Ed Rider Sr.

She is survived by husband Ed, Jr., daughter Abby Kemp (Jeremy), son Nate, grandson Kashton Kemp, granddaughter Kennedy Seward, mother Evelyn Orr, sisters Tay Orr and Tracey Grimme (Dave) and mother-in-law Barbara Rider.