Terry Dunn

Retired United Methodist minister, Rev. Terry R. Dunn, 82, of Choteau died on September 14, 2025, at Benefis Teton Medical Center of natural causes losing his battle with heart disease.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 11 at the Choteau United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Terry was born on May 4, 1943, in Minneapolis, MN to Robert L. and Luella M. (Bury) Dunn. The family moved to Plentywood, MT the summer of 1943 where they spent the next ten years. Terry's father was a minister of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and was appointed to the church in Livingston, MT in 1953. Terry spent his late elementary through most of his high school years in Livingston. His love for fishing and hunting accelerated in this beautiful environment of great stream fishing and mountain wildlife. Terry regrets the move to Billings, MT to finish his senior year of high school graduating from Billings Senior in 1961 with a class of 575 students.

Terry attended Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree with a biology major and chemistry minor.

Terry married Susan Hopkins in 1965 and moved to Denver in order to complete graduate work in physiology at the University of Denver. In 1966, they moved to Butte, MT as a home base. During this period, Terry worked for Lederle Pharmaceutical Company as a sales representative to hospitals and physicians which required monthly travel to Los Angeles and Portland. Their first daughter, Michelle, was born while living in Butte.

In 1968, Terry moved his family to Missoula, MT in order to receive a teaching certificate from the University of Montana. In the spring of this year, their son Taylor was born. At this time, Terry's career choice was about to take a turn. He accepted a teaching position at the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, Appalachian coal country, where he taught high school biology and chemistry.

In 1971, the family moved to Wilmore, KY where Terry received a Master of Divinity Degree from the Asbury Theological Seminary in 1974. While completing his theological education, he also worked at a Federal Narcotics Hospital. Terry's third child, daughter Mara, joined the family 1972.

Following graduation from seminary, Terry moved his family back to Montana where he was appointed as minister to the Troy-Libby United Methodist Churches (UMC) and served four years. Terry's fourth child, daughter Elizabeth, joined the family in 1975.

The family of six moved to Helena in 1978 where Terry was appointed to Covenant UMC. Following a divorce in 1980, Terry moved to Nashua, MT for a brief time and worked as a guidance counselor and taught junior high math. Later that year, he moved to Dutton, MT were he was appointed to minister at Dutton and Brady UMC churches.

After two years serving Dutton and Brady churches, Terry was appointed to Choteau UMC where he served for the next four years and raised his daughter, Michelle, and son, Taylor. After his two oldest children graduated from Choteau High School, Terry took a sabbatical year 1986-1987 to travel around the world which included adventures in Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, Indonesia, India, Israel, Scotland, England, and much of mainland Europe. While preparing for his trip, Terry attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and worked with AIDS patients. In hindsight, Terry regretted taking this trip alone; not being able to share the experiences with someone.

Returning to Montana from his sabbatical, he was appointed in 1987 to serve at Van Orsdel UMC in Havre, MT. A year later, he married Lila (Lindsey) Coghill and increased his family with two stepdaughters, Kelly and Kim. For the next ten years, they served the Havre church, and Lila worked as an administrative assistant at one of the elementary schools.

While in Havre, Terry underwent open-heart surgery with seven arterial by-passes at the age of 52. This dramatically changed his lifestyle for a few years. Terry contemplated the possibility of early retirement during this time. However, he agreed to serve the Lakeside Community UMC for a two-year period from 1998-2000.

The summer of 2000, Terry and Lila moved to Choteau, MT. This was their "happy" place where there was a golf course, fishing access, mountains to roam, a familiar church family, good friends and acquaintances. A place grounded in memories for many family members.

Terry's first retirement year was overshadowed by a diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer which included many visits to doctors, surgery, radiation and chemo therapies. Terry remained cancer free for the next 25 years.

Heart disease came knocking again in 2013 with a heart attack. Terry continued to rally and enjoyed golfing, traveling, volunteering at Bright Eyes Animal Shelter, marrying and burying, mowing lawns, and trying to win a cribbage game now and then with his wife.

In the fall of 2024, Terry suffered a stroke following carotid artery surgery. This caused a speech deficit as well as exacerbating his underlying health conditions. Terry was fortunate to remain at home despite the loss of many independences.

Terry loved to drive Cadillac cars. He could never be anonymous with the DUNNIN personalized plate. Terry also loved his hunting dogs, Fred, Barney, and Jake. His dogs blessed the passenger seat of his vehicle and church office every day.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents and an older infant brother, Robert Terry Dunn, who is buried in Bolivia, and younger brother, Fred Dunn.

Terry is survived by his wife, Lila; daughters: Michelle (Ray) Ramsey of Pipe Creek, TX; Mara (Matt) Rust of Everett, WA; Elizabeth Dunn (Josh) of Kirkland, WA; son, Dr. Taylor Dunn (Sheila) of Juneau, AK; stepdaughters: Kelly (Ryan) DeBruycker of Fairfield, MT; Kimberly Coghill of Great Falls, MT; his grandchildren: Regan Ramsey; Rowan Dunn; Zoe and Connor Rust; Ayden and Nolan DeBruycker; brothers: Rick (Jennifer) Dunn of Billings, MT; Robert (Laurel) Dunn of Billings, MT; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials are suggested to the Choteau United Methodist Church, Bright Eyes Animal Shelter, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Opportunities for All Scholarship Fund or your charity of choice.

Condolences to the family may be shared at www.frontierfuneralhome.com