Teresa Ann "Terry" (Vance) Tietge

VICTOR - Teresa Ann "Terry" Tietge passed away Saturday, January 17, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 74 years young. Terry was born in Conrad, MT on December 5, 1940 the only child of William Henry and Helen Jane (Ritchey) Vance.

Her family lived in Bozeman, Ft. Roberts, CA while her dad served in the Army during WWII, Roundup, Great Falls, eventually moving to Choteau when she was 7 years old. Terry's father worked for the Soil Conservation District. Terry had a great life growing up in Choteau and still has many friends from that area. She was a cheerleader all 4 years of high school, a car hop at the local drive-in, and a secretary for 3 different doctors. She had her own horse and rode almost every day.

After graduating from high school in 1958, she went to the Colorado Women's college in Aurora, CO. She met her future husband, Mike Tietge, a Cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, at a Christmas dance in December of 1958. In 1960 she graduated from college and became a stewardess for United Airlines and soon moved to New York to begin her career. Terry and Mike continued to date while she was in New York and he at the Air Force Academy, then she was transferred to Denver, CO. Mike graduated from the Academy in June of 1958 and they were married after he completed pilot training in August of 1963.

Terry was an Air Force wife for over 20 years, moving multiple times. She worked as a Veterinary Technician for over 7 years while they lived in Phoenix, AZ and together they raised Arabian Horses and Sheltie puppies. Terry was a wonderful Air Force wife as Mike was gone many times, once to Germany for 2 years. They had 2 children, Mark and Jill, who now both live in Arizona. Both are very successful, Mark has 3 sons, Dylan and Branden, 21 year old twins and Josh, who is 18 years old. Jill has a daughter, Danyelle, who is 21 years old and a recent graduate of the Arizona State University.

After Mike retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1983, they lived in Arizona and Colorado until moving to Montana in 2003. Terry loved Colorado and Montana. She volunteered as a Pink Lady at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and continued even after her diagnosis of cancer, she loved doing it!.

Terry was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Mike; 2 children, Mark Tietge and wife Lori and Jill Dodd and husband Cary; grandsons, Dylan, Branden and Josh; granddaughter, Danyelle; and cousin, Mary Lynn Ritchey of Boston, MA.

As Terry desired, private family services will be held and family placement of her ashes will take place at a later date.