Teena Ayers Scholte

Tenna Lynn Ayers Scholte passed peacefully into the arms of Our Lord on the morning of April 29, 2021. Born on January 20th, 1954 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Teena was the fourth of five children born to James L. Ayers and Cathryn Tarte Ayers.

Teena graduated from North Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, North Carolina and then attended and graduated from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah with a Master’s Degree in Education and Instructional Design.

Teena met the love of her life, Pieter Ignatius Scholte in Holland in 1976 and they soon married in 1977 at Lake Norman in Davidson, North Carolina. After marrying, Teena and Pieter settled in Salt Lake City to begin their life together. Teena’s outgoing personality, intelligence, wit, and delightful southern charm enabled her to make friends, succeed, and excel in all her endeavors. She was a working mom and pursued a career that led her to become the Contracts Manager for the State of Utah in the Division of Services for People with Disabilities. She later served the Governor of Nevada under the Office of Economic Development in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Teena was a devout Catholic and parishioner of Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Henderson, Nevada. She loved and supported the Catholic Church with her time and talents. Teena served as a member on the Governance Board for the Bishop’s Dinners for the preservation of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City. She supported many diocesan and parish organizations with a special affection for supporting the endowments for Catholic education and priestly vocations at the Catholic Foundation of Utah. Teena also avidly supported the local Knights of Columbus Councils and Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and served as a member of the Utah Governor’s Task Force for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Additionally, Teena was a St. Mary’s Eucharistic Minister for the home bound in Park City, Utah.

Most notably, though, Teena was honored with the rank of Dame Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Teena was an active and devoted member of the EOHSJ for over 17 years. She served the Order and the cause of supporting Christians in the Holy Land with love and great fervor. Teena served as a Co-Councillor of the EOHSJ Western Lieutenancy’s Justice and Peace Advisory Committee, she was a Co-Director for the Holy Land Economic Development Fund, and she served as the EOHSJ Area Councillor for the Salt Lake City area. As a member of the Order, Teena was blessed to be able to make multiple pilgrimages to the Holy Land. And she was specially blessed to be part of the EOHSJ Year of Faith pilgrimage to the Eternal City of Rome and be part of an audience with Pope Francis.

Teena loved to travel with Pieter throughout the U.S.; internationally to Germany, Aruba, Puerta Vallarta, Costa Rica, Panama, Canada, Italy, Israel, France, and Great Britain; and to The Netherlands to visit family and friends. She loved snow skiing, water skiing, fly fishing, and golfing – especially at Torrey Pines! Her favorite vacation spots included Ko Olina Beach, Myrtle Beach, Newport Beach, and Hilton Head. But her favorite getaway was spending time at her little cabin in the woods outside Yellowstone with her labs, Ranger and Buddy. Her most recent bucket list item accomplishment was attending the Tournament of Roses Parade with her sister Betsy last year in Pasadena, California.

But nothing was more important to Teena than her love for her family. She was a soccer, baseball, cub-scout, boy-scout, hockey, and neighborhood boys’ Mom. She always had a big pot of chicken ‘n dumplings ready when the kids came over. She taught them and all the younger ones in her family to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. She was a devoted wife, mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, niece, cousin and friend.

Teena is survived by her loving husband Pieter; her son Anthony Jason (Kanokwan); grandchildren Peter (Brandy), Anna (Noah) Toro, and Sean (Natalee); great-grandchildren: Hayden, Ethan, Arthur, and Maya; sisters: Betsy, Marie (Lee), Julie (Owen), Jacinta, MaryAnn (Craig), Wilhelmina (Tim), Doris (Andrew), Sylvia (Stephanus); brother: James “Buck”; Aunt Betty Ann Ayers, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic School Endowment, 2320 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Henderson, Nevada 89052 at www.sapsaints.org

Teena Scholte 1954 - 2021

It's with a profound sense of gratitude and love that I write this brief post about my mother.

Family was everything to her. I prayed she would get better, that the Doctors would somehow figure it out.

There's so much I want to say, but as many of you know words can only convey a tiny fraction of how we truly feel when we lose someone so important to us.

She was always there for me, even when the chips were down, she never once abandoned me. Believe me when I tell you, given some of the stunts I've pulled in my life I'm lucky as hell to have had such a loving (forgiving) mom.

She was beautiful inside and out, she was a strong woman and unafraid of the truth.

She was a devoted wife and partner to my amazing Dad. They were always a solid team working together to build a happy life.

My mom was a very spiritual person and highly devoted to her faith and family. She even ventured to Israel to visit the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

If I had to pick her greatest joy it would be her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren! Oh, and laughing! She was always finding the humor in situations and had one of those contagious laughs.

I just want to add a special "thank you" to all my family and friends for reaching out.

I especially want to thank my beautiful fiancée Kanokwan for her love and support.

I'm going to miss you Mom.

Jason Scholte

Grandma,

Maybe it's messed up, but as I sit here writing this, I'm letting myself truly feel the sadness of your passing for the first time since hearing about it. I know you would want us to throw a party, invite the neighbors, celebrate your life, and eat some good home cookin'.

The truth is, I'm not sure where to go from here. I always wanted to be just like you. I wanted to be so brave and so strong; stubborn and classy, hilarious and loving... I aspired to be like you my entire life, and have always fallen short. You were seriously a shining star in every room you entered. I dont think I ever felt sad when you were around. I always felt secure and loved and taken care of near you. You were, in many ways, a second mother to us grandkids. Now? Now... I truly feel numb. I'm not entirely sure what to feel or think, exactly.

I will always remember the days back when life seemed so much more simple and you would sing us to sleep, or guide me into sleep with a story. I remember going to work with you sometimes when we were little and I remember crying in your arms whenever I was sad. You made some amazing chocolate and sweet potato pies. You were always up to doing things and getting out, you NEVER let life get you down.

We had some good talks up at the cabin, and we did some great shopping together! I have missed watching Bridezilla and Say Yes to the Dress with you for years now, but knowing I never will be able to again, it feels much more distant. I know just how much you wished to see me in a wedding gown. Just how much you longed to take me shopping for one. Your 1 and only granddaughter. I know how much you yearned for the beach, for home, for your family and the South you knew and loved.

I believe God heard your prayers and desires and knowing that your physical body could no longer endure the activities you longed for, he claimed your soul so you could once again enjoy everything you ever wanted, for eternity.

The fact of the matter is, Angels can't be on earth forever, and YOU, grandma, you were definitely an Angel, at least in my eyes and my heart.

I keep thinking about what I SHOULD have done... I should have called you more. I should have visited more. I should have taken more photos, I should have hugged you longer. I should have this, I should have that... I know I shouldn't hold onto that. You wouldn't want me to... it's just so hard not to.

I am so grateful that Arthur and I could see you before you left. He may not remember it, but I always will.

I hope you took that saddle off the wall, put it on your pony, led him from his stall and rode the prairies you loved best.

You yearned for the freedom your body could no longer provide. I know you're free now, I know you're no longer suffering, and I know you're happier and watching down over every person you love.

Until we meet again,

I love you to the moon and back.

Anna Scholte Toro

Thursday was one day I will never forget. I was awaken by a call informing me that my Oma,

Teena Scholte

had passed away.

I was in disbelief, the one person that I had convinced myself would live forever was gone. She was more than just a grandma to me, she was my best friend, she was like a mom to me, she used to sing songs to me when I was little and couldn't sleep, she helped me in my darkest days. She always knew what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. I have not wanted to post anything because I keep telling myself she isn't gone, I keep telling myself she will call over FaceTime to see maya and everything will be okay.

Gosh even now it still feels like she is still here, when I found out I kept telling myself "Call her you need to call her, you need to hear her voice one more time to make sure it was just a bad dream" but it breaks my heart to say it wasn't a bad dream.

I have to say, the one thing I will miss the most is just the simple conversations we would have and hearing her laugh. She had such a pure soul and was so loving. Gosh Oma, I wish I could just talk to you one more time, I wish I could tell you all the things happening and how much you helped me become the person I am today. I wish you could see Maya again because she loved you so much and always asks about you but I don't know how to tell her you are gone. You and Opa were the ones to always be right by my side and tell me everything was okay, and now I want to be the one to tell you that everything will be okay.

Im glad you are out of pain now Oma, it was your time and I know that now. I love you so much Oma, rest in peace.

Sean Scholte

My Dear Companion left me yesterday. She fought the good fight everyday. We often made jokes about this day. and she would laugh like no one else! What can I say? There will always be some little tidbit of everyday life that I will want to share. Little things like the lightening bugs started blinking last night or the honeysuckle is blooming. She loved honeysuckle. It was not always fun and games but we could agree to disagree. I thought I was ready for the inevitable but now find that I am not. I know that the fog of grief will lift and all the countless happy memories will bring comfort and thankfulness for all those hard won extra years. God bless my dear cousin who was my dear companion. How lucky we were to have each other! Marie Arnold 5-1-21