Terry V. Klepey

Terry Van Deusen Klepey, 80, of Ryegate, passed away Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Intermountain Health Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Billings. He was born on March 27, 1944 in Oneonta, New York, and grew up in Cooperstown, New York. While in high school, his cross-country track team won the state championship. Terry never stopped running at full speed until he contracted Parkinson’s Disease, which only slowed him down and never stopped him. Terry graduated from Cooperstown Central High School and enrolled at the New York State Forestry School in Wanakena, NY. Shortly after he completed his studies there, he was drafted and joined the Army in 1965 where he spent his tour of duty stationed at Camp Sitman near the DMZ in South Korea as an Imjin Scout. When his tour of duty was completed in 1967, he returned to Cooperstown and married Carol Almstedt. They finished his enlistment in El Paso, TX, then moved to Forks, Washington where Terry began his forestry career with the US Forest Service in the Olympic National Forest and Carol worked as a registered nurse at Forks Community Hospital. Terry and Carol had two daughters, Melissa and Julie. In addition to his regular duties with the forest service, Terry worked as a volunteer firefighter for the city, as a cedar bolt cutter on weekends, and had a small farm with dairy cows, dairy goats, and rabbits. After Carol’s untimely death, Terry met Kay Willson, and they were married in 1985. Terry retired from the US Forest Service in 1990 and began a second career as an antique dealer. He owned and operated The Silver Bullet in Forks for about 14 years until he and Kay moved to Ryegate in 2004. 

Terry was known as a collector of many things, mostly International Harvester tractors and anything related to them, as well as Lone Ranger memorabilia. He loved to hunt and enjoyed hosting his Forest Service hunting buddies from Washington on an annual hunting trip to eastern Montana. He continued as a volunteer firefighter in Ryegate until his Parkinson’s Disease caused him to stop. He was on the Ryegate Town Council until 2022. He and Kay also helped organize the International Harvester Collectors Montana Chapter 40, and for several years hosted a yearly tractor show for the club on their property in Ryegate.

Terry was predeceased by his mother Harriette, stepfather John, his first wife Carol, and sister Sharon. He is survived by his wife Kay, daughters Melissa Marshall of Federal Way, WA, and Julie Janda (Victor) of Beaver, WA; grandchildren Jessica Batey (Tyler) of Spokane, WA, Lucas Marshall of Fife, WA; Christen Oguntade (Ezekiel) of Spokane, WA; Christina Marshall of Arlington, VA; great-grandson Sam Batey of Spokane, WA; brother John Klepey (Lora) of Gloversville, NY and sister Stephenie Martin of Gloversville, NY, and nephews Jason and Jeremy Morse, Jon (Molly) Van Alstyne, and Brian Pickett.

The family is forever thankful for the excellent healthcare Terry has received from St Vincent Healthcare and Dr. Erica Bruen, Dr. Arturo Echiverri, and Dr. Robert Terry in particular, as well as Adrie Min, a physical therapist at Wheatland Memorial Healthcare in Harlowton, whose compassionate care and encouragement enhanced Terry’s quality of life throughout the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. We are also thankful for the assistance of the Veterans Administration’s Care in the Community, which allowed Terry to have amazing caregivers - Alyssa Stevens, Emalee Vickers, and Kassandra Gantz. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

A memorial service will be held later. In lieu of flowers, please support Parkinson’s Disease research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation or the Parkinson’s Foundation. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Perkins Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.perkinsfuneralandcremation.com.