Shanda Jennings, 45, of Libby

Shanda Dee (Teske) Jennings joined her father, Barzia (Bart) Teske and her beloved son, Tyler Steven, on Aug. 20, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby. 

Shanda was born Sept 6, 1967, to Bart Teske and Roxanne (Parker) Teske in Kalispell.

Shanda attended school in Libby until the third grade when the family moved to Kalispell. 

She was involved with ballet, tap and jazz growing up and later theater at FVCC. She performed in many productions, her favorite being Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. Shanda graduated from Flathead High in 1985 and joined the Navy in 1986. She was stationed at Orlando Fla., for boot camp, Pensacola for CTO “A” School. 

Her first duty station was Kami Seya Japan. 

On Oct. 8, 1987, Shanda was blessed with her first miracle, her daughter, Skye Leigh Teske. On April 10, 1989, Shanda was blessed with a son, Tyler Steven. She enjoyed and celebrated her children every day. 

In 1999, Shanda married Lee Jennings of Ridgecrest, Calif. 

In 2004, they divorced and Shanda, Skye and Tyler, along with three cats, returned to Libby. 

In 2005, Shanda became the executive director at the Memorial Center and worked hard to have events almost every weekend.

After Skye and Tyler finished school, Shanda moved to Los Angeles not knowing a soul there. She quickly found an apartment and made many great friends.  She did background acting in many movies, sitcoms and commercials. Los Angeles was a fabulous experience,  and she loved it when her kids came to visit.

In 2009 Shanda returned to Libby, and on Jan. 7, 2010, her beloved Son Tyler Steven was killed at Yakima Forest Products while he was a student at Fort Simcoe Job Corps. The loss of Tyler at 20 was and still is devastating to his family and friends.

On July 25, 2010, Shanda became a proud grandma to her beautiful princess, Jaiden Tyler Hall, whom Mimi will always Love “big much.”

After more than a year of grief, Shanda went to work at Hometown Variety. She worked there for just more than a year and in January 2012, Shanda was hired as the executive director of the Libby Area Chamber of Commerce. She loved getting to know the local businesses and was proud to be the face of the Chamber. She was thrilled to be working with the new Board President Christi Ellwood,

In March, Shanda was diagnosed with an aggressive lymphoma. She would like to thank everyone who helped with holistic options, includiing Patty Keeler,  Kyle and Mindy James, Randy Hardy and Chuck and Charlotte Woods.  

She was preceded in death by her son, Tyler Steven; father, Bart Teske; grandparents, Hope and Soup Parker; uncles, Richard and Dennis Parker; and aunt Kathy Parker Rowland.

Survivors include her best friend and daughter, Skye Leigh Teske-Hall; husband Steven, granddaughter Jaiden Tyler Hall of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; mother, Roxanne Parker; brother, Brent Teske,  both of Libby; niece, Stephanie; nephew,  Jacob Teske, both of Libby; nephew, Jordan Teske of Boise, Idaho; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, and “brother from another mother,” Matt Sobel, and wife, Diana of Huntington Beach, Calif. 

A services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2013,  at the Memorial Center in Libby with military honors following at the City of Libby Cemetery. 

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.