Terrell 'Terry' Abell, 79
Terrell "Terry" Abell, 79, passed on from this life on Nov. 21, 2024, at The Springs in Whitefish with his brother by his side. He is with his Lord after living a true Christian life in service and support of his family, friends, community and nation.
Terry, a Whitefish native, was born Feb. 21, 1945, to Russell "Rusty" and Louise (Koehler) Abell. He grew up in a cedar log cabin on Whitefish Lake, graduating from Whitefish High School in 1963. He attended Pacific Lutheran University, the University of Montana and the Lutheran Bible Institute (seminary) until service to the nation called. The U.S. Army trained him as a medical technician and Terry spent 1968 in Vietnam serving as a front-line medic and non-commissioned officer in charge of an aid station. Returning to the U.S., he attended LH Bates chef school in Tacoma, pursuing his passion for cooking and following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Rudy Koehler, who ran Rudy’s Bakery in Whitefish from the 1920s to the 1940s. Combining his love for cooking with his affection for nature, he served as a cook for Glacier Park’s Sperry Chalet. For many years afterwards he volunteered as an alternate chef and baker at both Sperry and Granite Chalets. He assisted in the yearly opening and closing of the chalets and whenever staffing shortages led the managers to ask for his help.
Terry loved Glacier Park, hiking and re-hiking its trails, scaling its peaks and exploring treasured spots off the beaten path in both summer and winter. Whenever his path took him by a back-country chalet, he would always pack in fresh ice cream or a watermelon for the staff. With more than 10,000 photos of the park, he shared many slide presentations, where attending park rangers would comment "I don’t know anyone who has ever been there." Terry did not limit his nature exploration to Northwest Montana. His adventures included wandering the peaks of Patagonia, camping with penguins in Antarctica, exploring New Zealand and the Australian outback, and climbing Hawaii’s Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. While continuously part of a church congregation, he always felt closest to God in nature and took great joy in introducing his nephews and other hikers to his favorite chapel, the backcountry of Glacier Park, instilling in all the appreciation for, and stewardship of, nature’s blessings.
When not hiking or cooking, he worked in the family real estate and insurance business, the Abell Agency, and later for the Whitefish Credit Union. He lived his life in the family homestead on Whitefish Lake. Terry enjoyed skating and cross-country skiing around the lake in the winter, and swimming in Monks Bay every afternoon in the summer until recent years as its popularity made that activity too dangerous.
He was a devoted servant to our community, playing integral roles in the creation of the Immanuel Lutheran Home, serving on its initial board of directors. He enabled the establishment of Whitefish’s James R. Bakke Nature Reserve and Emma Sagen open space. Terry was an initial benefactor in the creation of our community pool now known as the Wave. He played French horn in high school and developed a lifelong enthusiasm for classical music and support for the Glacier Symphony and Chorale.
More personally, Terry believed he was put on this earth to serve and help others in need. He lived as an ideal example of a life of service. Terry devoted many years serving the elderly and shut-in, taking on caregiving to many who had no family support or could not afford nursing homes. Once a month, he also delivered bananas and visited lonely residents of the Colonial Manor and later, the Springs in Whitefish. To the residents, he came to be known as the "banana man." Dedicated to his Christian faith, he was a church council leader for over a decade and active participant within Christ Lutheran Church. He led adult bible studies and Sunday schools as well as religious services in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the valley and in his later years became involved with All Saints Episcopal Church. Incorporating his baking skills into his service, every fall and Christmas season he would deliver homemade jelly, Christmas cookies and confections to family, friends and associates — most years averaging over 100 jars and 600 dozen baked goods. For his family, he was the behind-the-scenes glue that kept the family together and its traditions alive.
He is survived by his brother Charlie (Susan), nephews Koel (Lazette), and Tarn (Marybeth), grandnephew Samuel, grandniece Lynn and "sister-in-law" Marcia Sheffels.
At Terry’s request, no memorial service is planned.
Remembering his love for cats and Glacier Park, donations may be made to the Humane Society and Glacier National Park Conservancy in his honor.