Theresa Victoria Salem

Theresa “Terry” Salem of Crookston passed away peacefully Sunday evening on May 28, 2023 at the Benedictine Living Community surrounded by her loving family.   

Theresa was welcomed into this world on the family farm on December 23, 1937 in Karlsruhe, North Dakota by her parents John and Margaret Klein, and fifteen other siblings at the time.  She was baptized in the Catholic faith and remained a faithful servant of God up until the evening of her passing.  Theresa graduated from Karlsruhe High School in 1955.  After she graduated, she moved to Crookston where she worked at St Francis Hospital as a nurse’s aide.   She later met and was united in marriage to Gordon “Bud” Salem on February 23, 1963 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Karlsruhe, North Dakota.  Theresa and Bud began a life in Crookston where they had their two daughters, Brenda in 1963 and LeaAnn in 1967.  Bud and Theresa shared 52 wonderful years together until his passing in 2015.

After raising her two daughters, Theresa continued her role as a caregiver and spent several years as a Nurse’s Aide at Mount St. Benedict in Crookston loving all the sisters she served.   Theresa had a love for many things throughout her life, especially animals, in particular her beloved cat Casey!  Being the faithful woman that she was, she spent a lot of her time in devotion to God and was a long-time parishioner of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and also a member of the St. Rose of Lima Circle. She also was a devoted member of her coffee club where many discussions took place regarding families, current affairs and life in general.   In the summers you could find her outdoors gardening and spending time at their Maple Lake home entertaining family and friends and enjoying all that lake life brought to her and Bud.   Her family recalls how much she loved to clean, cook and help Bud prepare his favorite Lebanese dishes.  In 2002 her only grandchild Gavin, was born and she and Bud helped care for him throughout his childhood and teenage years while enjoying his various activities.  Theresa also created fond memories of her family that included her many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.  All of these things and so much more of Theresa will be greatly missed by her family. 

Theresa is survived by her loving daughters, Brenda Salem of Bloomington, MN and LeaAnn Salem of Crookston, MN; grandson, Gavin Salem-Boman of Moorhead, MN; Siblings:  Jean Wald of East Grand Forks, MN, Emanuel (Angela) Klein of Minot, ND; Allen Klein of Norwich, ND, and Cornelius (Cecilia) Klein of Spearfish, SD. 

Theresa was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Salem; her parents John and Margaret Klein; and siblings:  Catherine Weist, Christina Wald, Maria Mareno, Pius Klein, Sebastian Klein, John Klein, Edward Klein, Mathilda Wald, Alex Klein, Marcella Klein, Peter Klein, and Theodore Klein. 

There will be a visitation at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 5pm – 7pm, followed by a prayer service.  The Funeral Service will be at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 11am. followed by a luncheon at the church.