Tera Lea Guetter

Tera Lea Guetter, age 64, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away at home on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, under the loving care of her family and hospice.

She was born on August 30, 1961, in Mahnomen, MN, to Gordon and Mavis (Paskewitz) Klabunde, the oldest of four children. As a young girl, she cherished growing up five miles northwest of Mahnomen, MN along Marsh Creek. In Tera’s own words, “I loved spending time there as a child—playing, fishing, and swimming in the creek, surrounded by nature and animals. It is what truly created my love and passion for the environment. It was incredibly beautiful and a sanctuary for me.” The Klabunde family later settled on a family farm northwest of Waubun, MN.

Tera graduated from Waubun High School in 1979. She met the love of her life, Randall Guetter, at the University of Minnesota Morris, where she earned her B.A. in Geology. Tera recalled, “I was pre-dental when I started, but I took one geology class and it was all over. That set the trajectory for my entire career—I was hooked!”

Randy and Tera married on November 3, 1984, in Mahnomen, MN. Of their life together, she said, “Our value system is the entire foundation for our marriage and family. We were aligned on our outlook on life—our goals, how we wanted to raise children, religion, and traditions. I was really fortunate to have met Randy and I owe the success of our children and family to him. One aspect we never wavered on was our support of each other. I always supported him and his dreams, and he always supported mine. We are extremely lucky… and I still find him very good looking.”

They remained living in Morris, MN, while Randy finished college and they welcomed their first daughter, Nicole Leigh, on February 27, 1985. After Randy graduated in the spring, they moved to Ithaca, NY, where both worked for XOX Corporation. During their time in New York, they enjoyed sailing the Finger Lakes, visiting local wineries, and sharing the East Coast with visiting friends and family—traveling to places like New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Niagara Falls. They fondly remembered this time as one that broadened their cultural horizons, especially in culinary cuisines. Their second daughter, Erika Rose, was born in Ithaca on December 8, 1987.

In 1988, they returned to Minnesota and settled in Apple Valley. Tera dedicated those years to raising her children and providing daycare, while also pouring her energy into community life. She was an active member of the Apple Valley Garden Club, serving as Chairperson of the annual plant sale, taught religious education, and volunteered in many capacities. Their son, Alexander Richard, was born on August 4, 1991.

In 1995, the family moved north and eventually settled on an 80-acre farm six miles north of Detroit Lakes, MN. Tera began her environmental career with Mahnomen County as an Environmental Coordinator before transitioning to the Wild Rice Watershed District in Ada, MN.

In 1997, Tera found her true calling as Administrator of the Pelican River Watershed District in Detroit Lakes—a role she held with passion and dedication for nearly three decades. She worked tirelessly to protect and improve the region’s lakes, rivers, and natural resources through water quality monitoring, education, regulation, and large-scale environmental projects. Among her many accomplishments were the Rice Lake Wetland Nutrient Reduction Project and leading efforts to combat invasive species such as flowering rush and the spread of zebra mussels. Her work earned national recognition, particularly for her relentless fight against the spread of flowering rush in local lakes. More recently, her work centered on restoring aquatic ecosystems, improving fish passage, and advancing lake sturgeon recovery through the “Reconnect the Red” initiative. This effort included creating a vital connection between Little Floyd Lake, Dunton Locks, and the Bucks Mill Dam. She also led the Campbell Creek Restoration project, an undertaking that will be on the ground soon and will significantly enhance water quality throughout the Floyd Lakes chain.

Members of the Detroit Lakes community and colleagues who worked alongside Tera reflected on her lasting impact:

“She leaves behind a remarkable legacy. It’s hard to look around without seeing something Tera touched—something she made better for all of us and for the environment.”

“She is a legend, and she will live on in our community because she left such a positive mark on both people and our natural resources.”

Beyond her professional work, Tera was a vibrant and committed member of her community. She became a proud Rotarian in 2000, served as President from 2007–2008, and was named Rotarian of the Year. Under her leadership, the Detroit Lakes club was recognized as the top club in the district. She later served a second term as President and contributed to countless committees and fundraising efforts.

Tera served on multiple boards, including Tamarac, the White Earth Lake Association, and Aquatic Invasive Species at the state level. She was also active in a local women’s investment club. Historically, she served as PTO president at Holy Rosary and was deeply involved in 4-H. She organized the community German Dinner for 10 years to support the Becker County Historical Society and helped run the Holy Rosary parish festival beef sandwich stand for 15 years. She often encouraged her children with the words, “Get out there and make a difference!”

Tera found joy in many simple and meaningful pursuits. She loved gardening, canning, tending her flower beds, sewing, antiquing, thrifting, reading, and snowmobiling. She was happiest outdoors—driving through the countryside or taking in the quiet beauty of nature. Cooking was a true passion; she loved exploring cookbooks, and many cherished family recipes came from her kitchen.

At the heart of everything was her deep love for family. She delighted in hosting—preparing meals, creating beautiful tablescapes, decorating her home, and making every gathering feel warm and special. She lovingly created and carried on family traditions, calling this her “love language.”

A place especially dear to her heart was her beloved White Earth Lake. There, she found peace, joy, and connection—spending time with family and friends and creating lifelong memories in every season. You would often find her with a wide-brimmed sunhat and a blue margarita!

One of Tera’s greatest joys was her grandchildren. She took immense pride in supporting them in all their activities and celebrating their accomplishments. She deeply believed in encouraging them to reach their fullest potential.

Tera will be remembered for her infectious laugh, vibrant spirit, and unforgettable presence. Her family often said no one could make them laugh harder than she could—a gift they will carry with them always.

Like the waters she spent her life protecting, Tera’s love and commitment to local natural resources, her community, and family will continue to ripple through generations—steady, life-giving, and enduring. The world is better because she was here.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 41½ years, Randall Guetter of Detroit Lakes, MN; her children: Nicole (Jake) Eiler of Clear Lake, MN, Erika (Tyler) Derouin of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Alexander (Janna) Guetter of Detroit Lakes, MN; her eight grandchildren—Jenna, Macey, Claire, Ryan, Quinn, Weston, Richard, and baby girl Guetter due August 2026; her parents, Gordon and Mavis Klabunde of Waubun, MN; and her three brothers: John (Hanae) Klabunde of Seattle, WA, Robert (Heather) Klabunde of Frazee, MN, and Bryan Klabunde of Waubun, MN.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 15, at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. In following through on Tera’s request for a lively Celebration of Life, the family will be hosting at Bucks Mill Brewing starting from 2:30 p.m. to 6pm same day. All who wish to attend are warmly welcome.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation to the Lakes Crisis & Resource Center in Detroit Lakes, MN.