Terance Olaf Skjersaa II

With a sincere and genuine heart, Terry Skjersaa built and nurtured meaningful relationships, treating everyone he met like family. To be a part of Terry's world was to be welcomed with open arms, and those who had the privilege of knowing him felt seen, heard and valued. Terry's presence was unmatched-he made you feel like the most important person in the room-and was fully engaged in every conversation and every moment.
Terry loved meeting new people, and his circle of friends stretched across the globe. Whether it was a casual encounter with a stranger or a visit with a lifelong friend, he had the unique ability to connect with people on a deep level. These conversations often sparked a new sense of purpose in him, inspiring his passion for service to a wide array of communities. Terry believed in the power of connection and was constantly working to bring people together to make the world a better place.
From the very beginning, it was clear that Terry Skjersaa was destined for adventure. Born on November 12, 1967, in Bend, Oregon, to Terry and Su Skjersaa, he was walking at eight months old and skiing by the time he was nine months old. As a child in Beaverton, Terry spent countless hours outdoors with his brother Hans and their step-siblings, creating forts, building bridges, and constructing dirt bike tracks and jumps. Hans considered Terry the greatest big brother he could ever ask for. His love for the outdoors took root early, and he earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. At age 12, he began riding his first motorized dirt bike, an early sign of his enduring love for exploration, which would eventually inspire him to travel across the West Coast, the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Norway on motorcycles with close friends and family.
Terry's love for outdoor adventure extended into his school years, where he became a dedicated ski racer at Sunset High School in Portland. He continued his racing career at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, before returning to Bend to join his father's business, Skjersaa's, the iconic ski shop established by his grandfather in 1939. Over the next decade, Terry built a successful career as a sales representative for major outdoor brands like K2, Voile and Mountain Hardwear.
In 2004, Terry shifted his focus to real estate, founding the Skjersaa Group in partnership with Duke Warner Realty. He recruited Jason Boone, who had been a long-time colleague in the ski industry. Their vision was clear: to build a business grounded in hard work, strong relationships and community service. Under his leadership, the Skjersaa Group became one of the top three producers in Bend's residential real estate market. In keeping with his values, Terry implemented a "one percent campaign," donating at least one percent of the company's revenue to environmental, housing and youth initiatives that served the Central Oregon community. This commitment to giving back was a hallmark of his career and personal life.
Fatherhood came naturally to Terry. In 2003, he welcomed his daughter Ellie, and in 2005, his daughter Jade was born. He nurtured a family life full of outdoor adventures, gymnastics, plays, cross country meets and ski racing and all the experiences that filled the lives of Ellie and Jade with joy.
Terry's heart grew even fuller when he met Renee Scott in 2013. Their shared love of the outdoors, commitment to community and zest for life quickly brought them together. On August 20, 2015, Terry married Renee on Elk Lake, and together they created a life filled with adventure, laughter, love and a deep sense of purpose. Their bond was built on a foundation of shared values-service, family, joy and love.
Terry is survived by daughters Ellie and Jade (Bend, OR); mother Su Skjersaa (Bend, OR); father Terry Skjersaa Sr. (Bend,OR); stepmother Judy Skjersaa (Bend, OR); brother Hans Skjersaa (Bend, OR); sister-in-law Flora Skjersaa (Bend, OR); niece Cora Skjersaa (Bend, OR); aunt Karen Weeks and her husband Mike (Bend, OR); uncle Gary Cecil (Denver, CO); cousin Kristina Cecil (Denver, CO); cousin Harold Cecil and his wife Michelle, and their children Maya and Blake (Bend, OR); stepsiblings Candy Page and her husband Eric, and their children Keaton and Tucker (Salem, OR), Mike Skjersaa (AK), Rich Laudie, Julie Nance and Matt Laudie; and his beloved cousins in Molde, Norway.
An outdoor Celebration of Life will be held on June 15, 2025, at the Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room and Headquarters from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Deschutes County Search and Rescue Foundation and the Central Oregon Avalanche Center.
Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home, Bend, was honored to handle the arrangements.