Terry Sakariason died at his home near Kalispell on Friday, July 19, 2013, from natural causes.
Terry was born Aug. 2, 1954 in Enumclaw, Wash. He felt blessed every day of his life to have had his parents, Wayne and Amanda Sakariason, and grandparents, Bill and Selma Mattson. His dad and "Gramps" were his heroes and role models. Both of them overcame great hardships in their early lives by sheer determination and hard work and he followed in their footsteps. His mom was the perfect combination of tenderness and toughness and his grandma was everybody's dream grandmother who spoiled him rotten.
Terry's exceptional skills with all things mechanical became apparent early in life when, at 3 years old, he received a tool kit and bicycle for Christmas and, much to his mothers' consternation and then relief, proceeded to use the first to dismantle and then reassemble the second.
It was only fitting that as a teenager the first time he was introduced to his future wife, Joy, he had his head under the hood of a Mustang Mach adjusting the carburetor for a friend and giving him a lecture on how Chevys are better than Fords. Luckily, Joy also came from a family who preferred Chevys. He liked telling people he and Joy were happily married for 38 years, because most had predicted they wouldn't make it to three.
Terry found the job most suited to his talents when he joined the staff at Kalispell Regional Medical Center at the beginning of a time of rapid expansion that continued to pick up speed as the years went by. He was continually challenged, never bored and loved every minute of it despite a lot of swearing. He no longer had much time to hunt and fish so he took up trapshooting, became quite good at it and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Terry is survived by his family, wife Joy; brothers, Joe Bennett, Don Bennett and Francis Tanzella; sisters, Terri Bennett, Michele Bennett and Donna Tanzella; his nephews of whom he was immensely proud, Brian Bennett, currently serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan and Jesse Bennett, completing his final year of college before continuing on to grad school; also a sister, Sheri Sakariason, and her children. He is also survived by his friends, Jordan Boles, Scott and Lorinda Daumiller, Rich Herbold and Linn Gielman who shared countless cups of coffee in the late hours he kept and, of course, his second family, his friends and coworkers at KRMC.
Terry's ashes will be buried near his parents and grandparents at C. E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. In accordance with his wishes there will be no services.
To send condolences to the family, go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
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Terry was born Aug. 2, 1954 in Enumclaw, Wash. He felt blessed every day of his life to have had his parents, Wayne and Amanda Sakariason, and grandparents, Bill and Selma Mattson. His dad and "Gramps" were his heroes and role models. Both of them overcame great hardships in their early lives by sheer determination and hard work and he followed in their footsteps. His mom was the perfect combination of tenderness and toughness and his grandma was everybody's dream grandmother who spoiled him rotten.
Terry's exceptional skills with all things mechanical became apparent early in life when, at 3 years old, he received a tool kit and bicycle for Christmas and, much to his mothers' consternation and then relief, proceeded to use the first to dismantle and then reassemble the second.
It was only fitting that as a teenager the first time he was introduced to his future wife, Joy, he had his head under the hood of a Mustang Mach adjusting the carburetor for a friend and giving him a lecture on how Chevys are better than Fords. Luckily, Joy also came from a family who preferred Chevys. He liked telling people he and Joy were happily married for 38 years, because most had predicted they wouldn't make it to three.
Terry found the job most suited to his talents when he joined the staff at Kalispell Regional Medical Center at the beginning of a time of rapid expansion that continued to pick up speed as the years went by. He was continually challenged, never bored and loved every minute of it despite a lot of swearing. He no longer had much time to hunt and fish so he took up trapshooting, became quite good at it and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Terry is survived by his family, wife Joy; brothers, Joe Bennett, Don Bennett and Francis Tanzella; sisters, Terri Bennett, Michele Bennett and Donna Tanzella; his nephews of whom he was immensely proud, Brian Bennett, currently serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan and Jesse Bennett, completing his final year of college before continuing on to grad school; also a sister, Sheri Sakariason, and her children. He is also survived by his friends, Jordan Boles, Scott and Lorinda Daumiller, Rich Herbold and Linn Gielman who shared countless cups of coffee in the late hours he kept and, of course, his second family, his friends and coworkers at KRMC.
Terry's ashes will be buried near his parents and grandparents at C. E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. In accordance with his wishes there will be no services.
To send condolences to the family, go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
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