Tenis Christian Tennyson, 56, of Lakeside, Montana, died of natural causes at his home on Friday, March 2, 2018.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 5, in Kalispell, Montana.  Arrangements for a memorial service this summer in Brookings are pending.    

Tenis was born August 15, 1961, in Philip to Larry and Shirley Tennyson. His childhood was spent in Pierre, until the family moved to Brookings. He graduated from Volga High School in 1980. He attended and graduated from Dakota State University, in Madison, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biological Science in 1984. Later he studied adult and higher education at South Dakota State University in Brookings.  While he attended college in the early 1980s, he worked summers as a forest ranger in the Black Hills.  Tenis had a great love for the outdoors and nature, which continued throughout his life.   

He dedicated his career to development work for a number of nonprofit organizations including the Boy Scouts of America and various hospitals and universities.  Along the way, Tenis mentored many young professionals and students, assisting them in fulfilling their dreams. He was an active member of several leadership and community organizations, working to enrich the lives of others around him.  

Although Tenis was passionate about his work, he was even more passionate about his family and friends.  He was an especially loving and proud father to his son, Tenis, a devoted son and husband,  and a beloved brother, uncle and friend.  He had a zest for life, travel and exploring new places.  He was a captivating story teller and cared more for people and life experiences than possessions.  A friend recently commented, “He had life figured out.”   

Tenis is survived by his mother, Shirley Tennyson, of Brookings, his son, Tenis Keller Tennyson and his wife, Svetla, of Lakeside, Montana, his sister, Kim Sheppard, of Madison, nephews Chris Henslin (Hanna) of Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Eric Sheppard of Pierre, South Dakota, and his niece, Stephanie Wendland (Colton) of Aurora.  

He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Tennyson, and his sister, LeAnn Henslin.