Terry Wayne Faris, 76

Terry Wayne Faris, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 15, 2026. He was born Nov. 22, 1949, to George and June (Udall) Faris in Polson. He was the youngest of three children.  

As a young boy in Libby, Terry enjoyed building model cars, fishing, playing baseball with the neighbor kids, and building forts in an empty field where the new Cabinet Peaks Hospital now stands. As a teen, he delivered the Spokane Chronicle to Libby residents, often stopping at the old Libby Hotel to stay warm and to wait for his bundle of papers to arrive. He also worked as a clerk at the Super America Convenience Store to save money for his Honda 50 motorcycle to ride back and forth to school. 

Terry graduated from Libby High School in 1967 and attended Spokane and Flathead Community Colleges. On May 3, 1970, he was drafted into the United States Army to serve during the Vietnam War with the Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 30th Infantry, 5th US Army. During his tour in Vietnam, he was in the Central Highlands area. He was awarded several medals, badges and campaign ribbons. Before his honorable discharge, he received Postal Service training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and completed his service for our country in September 1971.

Terry returned home to Libby and worked for a short time at St. Regis Lumber Mill before beginning employment with the US Postal Service. He completed a long, well-loved, 35-year career serving in Libby and Kalispell, as a mail carrier, a front desk clerk and as a postal trainer throughout Montana. As a window clerk, he wanted customers who were distressed to leave with a happier heart and worked hard to instill a positivity that people would carry with them. He also volunteered as a fireman for the Evergreen Fire Department. 

A daughter, JeAnne Marie, blessed Terry’s first marriage, along with a stepson, Daren. Terry and JeAnne loved running Bloomsday, picnicking in Glacier Park, playing cards, watching football (Go Patriots!) and fixing things around the house. Taking yearly trips was a tradition they carried on for many years.

On Nov. 21, 1992, Terry and Birdie (Ballenger) Roberts were married. Their blended families enjoyed playing board games, celebrating holidays and birthdays, hiking, attending rodeos, having picnics and just hanging out together. Terry loved music and sang baritone in a Barber Shop Quartet, played saxophone in the New Horizons Senior Band, organized family events and served as a board member for the Flathead Valley Gospel Music Association. Together, he and Birdie spent many hours volunteering at Glacier Bible Camp in Hungry Horse, assisting at Canvas/Christian Center Church in Kalispell as greeters and serving on the mission's board. They also delivered cupcakes and visited with shut-ins during the major holidays. The desire of Terry’s heart was to bring God’s joy to those who were often alone. Terry enjoyed organizing and attending Faris Family Reunions and they took extended mission trips to Togo, West Africa and Nuevo Laredo in Mexico. In addition to their foreign travels, they enjoyed visiting friends and family. They especially enjoyed Hawaii, the Oregon Coast and long road trips. 

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, great-grandson, Kip and sister-in-law, Maribeth Faris. 

He is survived by his wife, Birdie of Kalispell; daughter, JeAnne (Justin) Scott of Cantonment, Florida; stepchildren, Christina (Ismo) Kotilainen of El Dorado Hills, California and Doug (Becky) Roberts of Sheridan, Wyoming. He is also survived by grandchildren, Colton (Amy) Faris and daughter, Rosemary with the military in England; Levi, Katelyn and Makayla Kotilainen; Lyssa (Hunter) Redinger, Tyler (Marcia) Roberts, Bethany (Rory) Watson, Bretten Roberts and Kate Roberts; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers, Dennis (Sandy) Faris of Troy and Don (Jayne) Faris of Hamilton and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are under the care of Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, Kalispell. Visitation will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Internment with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Glacier Memorial Gardens. A celebration of life will follow at noon at the Whitefish Assembly of God Church, off of Blanchard Road, 150 Lamb Lane, Whitefish.