Terrell L. Mortensen

STEVENSVILLE - Terrell L. Mortensen, formerly of Darby, passed away on Thursday, July 29th, 2021 at his home of natural causes. Terrell was born July 31st, 1944 in Farmington, New Mexico. He is the son of Keith Arvin Mortensen and Helen Louise Montierth Mortensen.

In his early childhood Terrell’s family lived in the logging camps of McNary, Arizona and what was once Maverick on the Apache reservation, then moved to Silver City, New Mexico. When Terrell was in the 8th grade the family moved to Willcox, Arizona. Terrell graduated from Willcox High School in 1963. He enlisted in the U.S Navy right out of high school where he served from 1963-1967 during the Vietnam War as a deck edge operator on the USS Kitty Hawk.

Upon his return from the war Terrell went back to southeast Arizona where he attended Eastern Arizona University for a couple of years studying animal husbandry and then went to work as a ranch-hand, a corrections officer at Fort Grant Reform School, a butcher in a packing house, OTR truck driver hauling cattle, basically anything involving horses and cattle. A serious injury sustained from a horse in a feed lot forced him to change direction and he enrolled in the gun-smithing program at Colorado School of Trades. Upon his graduation in 1978, Terrell loaded up his pickup and camper and ultimately found himself in western Montana where he worked in various sporting goods and outfitting stores, eventually retiring from Cooper Firearms in 2006. Terrell enjoyed his family, hunting, fishing, gun-smithing, reloading, camping and four-wheeling.

Terrell is pre-deceased by his mother and father and brother Larry. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dana Mortensen, his sister Sandy Sangster (Bob), nephews Rick Brinkerhoff (Alisa), Keith Sangster (Terry), Shane Mortensen, Mike Cope (Eneida) and nieces Dawn Boyd (Bruce) and Stacy Deville as well as numerous great-nephews and nieces.

Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, August 4th, 2021 at Daly-Leach Memorial Chapel in Hamilton. Service time is 11:00am with reception to follow immediately at the Daly-Leach Community Room. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the charity of donor’s choice.