Tari grew up in Crookston, MN and graduated from Northwestern College in Roseville, MN with an Elementary Education Degree. She was a substitute teacher for Forest Lake and Chisago Lakes School Districts for 10 years. She joined the Lakes Free staff part-time in June 2012 as Middle School Director. In 2021, she moved to Children’s Ministry as the Children’s Ministry Assistant.
Tari and her husband Mark are parents of 5 children: Zachary (Liz), Tyler (Brittany), Caleb (Marissa), Marissa (Derek Gruening) and Adaira (Austin Hagemeister). They have 7 grandchildren. Besides babysitting grandkids, Tari enjoys riding with Mark on the motorcycle and enjoying God’s creation all around the US.