Terrance Allen Eby was born on June 20, 1947, to Francis “Pete” and Marietta (Wright) Eby in Billings, MT, surrounded by a loving extended family. Always known as Terry, he was named after grandfathers Terrance “Ted” Irvin Eby and Allen Ray Wright. Terry’s younger siblings Russ (William), Kelly, and Jennifer rounded out his immediate family, and together they adopted strong values of love and integrity, befriending many and never turning away those in need.
Terry fostered a wide variety of skills during his formative years, such as learning to build roads and bridges in Yellowstone National Park and Spotted Bear Ranger Station with his dad and uncles. Terry so enjoyed telling stories about those experiences, which formed him into the person he was – a caring son and brother, committed and faithful husband to Nancy, loving and tender father to Kerry Jo and Amy, jolly uncle, devoted grandpa, and friend to all. We will remember Terry as a true role model who never swerved from his sense of right and wrong.
He graduated from Billings West High School in 1965 and attended Montana State University, completing two Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Vocational Agriculture Education. Terry met his lifelong partner, Nancy Jo Rye in 1968, and they married in 1972. They taught for their first three years of marriage in Opheim, MT, where they made lifelong friends and Terry taught vocational agriculture and FFA (Future Farmers of America), with a lifelong wealth of knowledge of agriculture, wildflowers, and wildlife. After daughter Kerry Jo was born, Terry & Nancy returned to Billings, where they remained for the rest of their 54 years of marriage, and where daughter Amy Marie was born. Terry worked as a heavy equipment/diesel mechanic and welder in Billings and project supervisor on the North Slope and Pribilof Islands of Alaska, with the privilege of often working with his brother.
Terry’s mastery of arts ever grew—from oil painting, calligraphy, scrimshaw, photography, woodworking, and woodcarving. Beyond radio-controlled airplanes and electric trains, his woodworking legacy included creating doll beds, rainbow desks and Bible boxes. Terry developed into a master woodcarver, and his portfolio includes award winning pieces, viewed and celebrated across the state of Montana, including contributions to Eby family reunion auctions. Terry truly could turn a piece of wood into a fish or duck that looked alive and real.
Terry’s heart of humor, love of the outdoors, and helping others combined on a number of fronts: for many years he volunteered with Eagle Mount Billings adaptive ski program in Red Lodge working with those of varying developmental abilities; he taught his family to enjoy cross-country skiing and spent many days on the slopes with his nephew and brother; and spent hours as a “big kid” with his little buddies watching construction equipment. Terry became an avid birder, even before birding was popular. A favorite day might include a drive up the Beartooth Pass and through Yellowstone with family, crawling in the marsh to get just the right photo of elk bugling. Animals always liked Terry best—whether butterflies, polar bears, lap dogs or kitties—creating many smiles and laughter knowing this truth! Although medical limitations were barriers in recent years, his loves of family, being Grandpa, and retelling old-time stories remained.
Terry died unexpectedly in Kalispell, Montana, on July 17, 2026, with complications from a fall. He is survived by his wife Nancy; daughter Kerry and son-in-law Cory Kohm; granddaughter Caroline Elizabeth and son-in-law Stephen Ponzillo; brothers Russ (Cheri) Eby, Kelly (Wendy) Eby; sister Jennifer (Jack) Tarr; many special nieces, nephews, cousins, extended friends-like-family, and granddogs. Terry now reunites in heaven with his beloved daughter Amy Ponzillo, along with his parents, uncles, aunts, and a lifetime of best animal friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society, Yellowstone Forever Institute, or Eagle Mount Billings. More importantly, spend a day watching the birds, going for a Sunday drive with ice cream with your family, and protecting animals in his Terry’s honor.
A memorial gathering celebrating Terry will be held Friday, September 18, 2026, at 11:00 am at Michelotti-Sawyers Funeral Home, followed by internment at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings. Please join the family for a reception at the family home shortly thereafter.