Terry C. Lloyd

Terry Cecile (Jones) Lloyd, 97, passed away Jan 21, 2025 at her home in Mankato. A memorial service will be Saturday, February 8 at 11:00AM at Crossview Covenant Church, North Mankato, with visitation at 10:00AM. Burial Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato.

Terry (originally named Betty) was born May 29, 1927 to Neil and Ruth (Saalwachter) Jones in Los Angeles, California at 1+¾ pounds (which she’d proudly announce). A “miracle” baby and only child, she was adventurous, curious, outgoing and fiercely independent. She insisted on a name change to Terry in grade school because there were “too many Betty’s” in the neighborhood. She loved to travel and meet people, easily making friends wherever she lived. At age 10 Terry took her first overseas trip on a ship with her mom to live in the jungles of Mindanao, Philippines for two years where her dad worked as a mining engineer. They barely made it back to San Francisco before Japan invaded the Philippines and attacked the USA in WWII. Growing up, Terry lived in Utah and Colorado, but mostly California, where she graduated from Los Angeles High. She played clarinet with dreams of joining a Hollywood orchestra and also took acting classes, where she met several eventual movie “stars.”

While working at an LA employment agency, Terry met Helen Lloyd, who introduced Terry to her brother, Harry, when he came to visit. That changed Terry’s plans. The two married in 1950 and moved to Mankato where Harry owned a business with his dad, Ralph Lloyd. Terry give birth to two daughters, Judy and Kathleen, and the Lloyds adopted baby Laurinda in between. Terry loved being a homemaker, plus she was active in League of Women Voters, Red Cross, church and the Mankato Golf Club. She enjoyed playing tennis and golf, planting every imaginable flower and shrub, feeding the outdoor creatures and especially loving many dogs.

In 1972 Harry and Terry divorced. Terry returned to her beloved California as a single mom where she worked at many different occupations including her own business for many years in Santa Barbara. After Lauri and Kathleen were grown, she also served as a nanny for 10 years to the Karen Coyne family, raising Megan and Cameron from toddlers to teens in Santa Maria. They regard her as their second mom/grandma.

Terry moved back to Mankato in 2005 to be near family. She stayed in her own home until passing away from leukemia. Terry‘s proudest achievement was leaving a legacy of 3 children, Judy (Tim) Anderson, N. Mankato; Laurinda Brenner, San Diego; Kathleen Mitchell, Silverdale, WA; 6 grandchildren: Joel (Amy Deike) Anderson, Christy (Chad) Engelhart, Kelly (Andy) Thompson, Jeremy (Melissa) Anderson, Jeffrey (Paige) Mitchell, Paige (Kevin) Walthall; and 14 great grandchildren with two to come.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Neil and Ruth Jones, ex-husband Harry, Great granddaughter, Elowyn and many, many friends. Terry’s stories, her zest for life, and unending interest in others will be terribly missed.