Margaret A. “Terri” Schwantes, 78, of Coupeville and formerly of Sitka, Alaska, died Sept. 6, 2008, in Coupeville. She was born Jan. 15, 1930, in Glasgow, Scotland to Robert and Margaret Ure (Quinn) Kiddie.

On Dec. 29, 1967, Terri married Charles R. Schwantes in Clarksville, Tenn. Together, they moved to Alaska in 1968.

Terri was the first female to be sworn in as a police officer in Sitka. She retired from the police department after 17 years. After her retirement, Terri worked as a secretary and receptionist at the SEARHC Hospital Mental Health Clinic. She was a longtime member of the Alaska Peace Officers Association.

Terri was a very caring and giving lady. She would do anything for anyone. She was a foster mother to many children over the years, and the children thought a lot of Terri. She also loved to shop, especially for other people. She was always on the lookout for a bargain or a gift for a friend or family member.

Preceding Terri in death were her parents and daughter Stacey A. Schwantes.

She is survived by her husband of over 40 years, Charles R. Schwantes of Coupeville; son Richard DeYoung of Ochelata, Okla.; daughters Margaret Corrie Schwantes of Coupeville and Beverly Austin-Orr and husband Arthur of Anchorage; grandchildren Richard B. DeYoung, Jr. of Oscoda, Mich., Richard DeYoung II of Ochelata, Okla., and Logan K. Schwantes of Coupeville; brother Robert Kiddie and his wife Alieen of Glenrothes, Scotland; sister Evelyn Black and her husband Joseph of Doncaster, England; brothers-in-law David Schwantes of Anchorage and Thomas Schwantes and his wife Lila of Kodiak, Alaska; sisters-in-law Judy Rickert of Sheboygan Falls, Wisc., Daisy Cook and her husband Norm of Sheboygan Falls, and Karen Ziemkowski and her husband Duane of Hewitt, Minn.; nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. at Sitka National Cemetery in Sitka. In lieu of flowers, donations have been suggested to Whidbey General MAC – Cancer Care Clinic, 101 N. Main, Coupeville, WA 98239.

Burley Funeral Chapel in Oak Harbor and Prewitt Funeral Home in Sitka are in charge of arrangements.