Terrill Arlo Rypkema "Terry" of Flagstaff Arizona, passed away at home on May 18, 2026. Terry was born in Vallejo, California to Arlyss J. Carlberg and Harold R. Rypkema.  Terry graduated high school from Mountain Home, Idaho in 1961, received his teaching degree from Black Hills Teacher College, and ultimately obtained his master's degree in education.

Terry was a career high school teacher and athletic coach, training students and athletes in Nebraska, Wyoming, and Flagstaff Arizona, where he retired from the classroom. As an educator, Terry strove to motivate young people to thrive both academically and personally. He was often chosen the favorite teacher by his students.  Basketball was a particular passion for Terry. Whether he was playing college ball in his youth, coaching high school teams during his career or playing pickup games with his fellow teachers and retirees, his love for the sport was evident. He once played against the Harlem Globe Trotters in an exhibition game and was introduced as Terry "Rifle" Rypkema, known for his aim and accuracy. In the early 1970s, when school was not in session, Terry was a seasonal climbing ranger at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. He was an avid rock climber and co-authored "A Climber's Guide to Devils Tower",  pioneering several of the climbing routes. He and his fellow rock-climbing enthusiasts conquered many peaks in addition to Devils Tower, including  the Needles, Black Hills, Tetons, and Yosemite.  His climbing parties have unexpectedly executed emergency rescues, saving multiple lives because they were in "the right place at the right time."  Terry owned and operated the "Devils Tower Trading Post" during the filming of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".  Not one to pass up an opportunity, he capitalized on the movie adventure by hosting the actors' trailers on his property, building sets in the backyard, guiding film crews up the mountain and appearing in multiple scenes. After leaving Wyoming, Terry found he really liked Arizona and he really loved Jody.  Terry continued teaching, coaching, building, climbing, and impacting the lives of those around him.  Many of his exploits are legendary, but his greatest accomplishment was his love for his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father Harold Rypkema, his mother Arlyss Bastida, stepfather Pete Bastida, and grandson Joshua Kelly. He is survived by his wife  Jody Rypkema,  sister Margaret Rule and husband John, children, Kevin Magill and wife Kelly, Shelley Lovato and husband Mark, Karen Wilkerson-Brown and husband Nick, Kristen Frigoli and husband Paul, Kaylene Vlastelich and husband Jon, Mark Tromble and wife Lori, and Sandra Kelly, 23 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to count.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday July 11, 2026, from 1PM to 3PM at Norvel Owens Mortuary, 914 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.