Trudy Lynn Terwilliger, 69, of Great Falls, passed away from Alzheimer’s disease on January 20, 2022, at Peace Hospice. Trudy was born April 23, 1952, in Missoula, Montana to Robert and Valetta Dillard and the family later moved to Great Falls.
Trudy graduated from Charles M. Russell High School and began working as a waitress at the Wrangler where she met and fell in love with a certain airman that captured her attention and her heart for the next 51 years.
Trudy and Earl were married on October 17, 1970, and were blessed with the first addition to their family when son Dusty was born one year later. Daughter Dana joined the family a few years later and Trudy’s natural calling of being a homemaker and caregiver occupied her days.
Volunteering in her church and helping in the school system were both important to her and she coordinated the RISE reading program at Riverview Elementary School. After the kids were “mostly” out of the house Trudy owned and operated the Coffee Stop in downtown Great Falls for ten years. Being “grandma daycare” for grandson Mark became her next project and the two enjoyed their days together roaming the neighborhood giving treats to all the dogs and making good use of all the playgrounds. The school system then once again received the benefit of her services as a crossing guard for several years.
To read the complete obituary and share condolences, visit the O'Connor Funeral Home website.
