Terrance "Terry" Arthur Deehr Jr.

Terrance “Terry” Arthur Deehr Jr. December 19, 1939 – August 27, 2025

If you are reading this it means I’m back in the saddle with Blaze taking me home. Joe and Nell are running beside us.

I was born on December 19, 1939, to Terrance and Konstance (Connie) Deehr in rural Tolna Township. Mother often told stories of me being able to fit inside her shoe box (mother’s feet were small). When mother brought me home, I joined my sisters Stella (Weldee) Baetsch of Bismarck, ND and my late sister Rhoda (Roger) Messner of Pekin, ND.

Pa moved us to Grand Forks until deciding to go to the homestead. At an early age I loved horses, hunting, fishing and I was a great long-distance runner. After chores with Pa, I was with my well-loved and self-train horse Blaze.

I graduated from Tolna High School in 1958 and left to join the United States Army. I got to be stationed in Germany where I was trained as a tank mechanic.

After I served, I worked at the elevator in Pekin. One night in 1963 a few buddies and I drove to a dance outside New Rockford, ND and I saw the prettiest woman I’d ever seen. I was told “No one can get her on the dance floor. You can’t do it.” I grabbed her hand, and we danced all night long. I met Karen Ann Miller that night.

The night I proposed she grabbed the ring, ran to the phone and dialed up her roommates Sonia and Adaline to tell them she was engaged. That’s when I found out she said YES!

On October 3, 1965 at Kvernes Lutheran Church, Herman “Slim” & Hatie Miller gave Karen’s hand to me in marriage.

We started out in a little pink house in Pekin. Michael (Cynthia) Deehr of Tabernacle, NJ was born. After I studied through the mail I became a lineman and we moved to Finley, ND. Michelle (Steve) Loibl of Valley City, ND and Rebecca Deehr of Garretson, SD completed our family.

As a lineman our family moved several times until 1982 when Karen and I bought the farm from Mother and Pa.

Once the kids all graduated and moved away Karen thought it was best we moved back to town. We ended up buying the house next door to the pink house we started out in.

After our family lost Karen in 2007, I built a shop on the west edge of Pekin and that’s where I lived until August 2024.

This ole cowboy said goodbye to my parents Terrance and Konstance Deehr, my in-laws Slim and Hatie Miller, my wife Karen Deehr and family members Rhoda and Roger Messner, Devain and Lois Helmer, Wallace and Emilee Miller, Howard and Jean Miller, Milton and Gloria Miller, Gary and Verna Kautzman, Darwin Helmer, Janet Miller and Lisa Miller.

I am survived by my sister and brother-in-law Stella and Weldee Baetsch of Bismarck, my 3 children, 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Blaze has now come to a stop and this ole cowboy is back in his dancing shoes with Karen in my arms. I’ve waited many years to hold her. Until I see all of you again, remember me with a smile.

This ole cowboy’s last request is that no services be held. I have donated my body to science as my soul is now with Karen.