Terry Ehli

Terrence (Terry) Ehli, 66, passed away peacefully at his home in Mandan, ND, on August 27, 2017, after an extended illness.  A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am Thursday, August 31, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Dale Nabben officiating.Burial will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 30, at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service.Terry was born September 25, 1950, at the Bismarck Hospital to Martin and Billie Ehli.  Terry lived his first eight years with his parents on a farm in Raleigh, ND.   Later, the family moved to Bismarck where Terry attended elementary, junior high and high school.  He met his wife, Connie, in the Bismarck High School library; they were married on April 24, 1970, two years after graduation.  To this union, they welcomed a daughter and the joy of their lives, Tonya. Terry entered the Army and served overseas in Germany.  After an honorable discharge, he and his family returned to Bismarck and continued to live in this area.   Terry began a long career with the Federal government, first with General Services Administration and then later with Federal Aviation Administration.  He was able to retire early and enjoyed ten years of fun, rest and relaxation before his passing.Terry had a passion for living; he made many lifelong friends throughout his life.  Terry and Connie built their retirement home in Marina Bay in 1994 and spent the next 23 years boating, ice fishing, swimming, and sand bar hopping with other "river rats".  Terry had a great love of music; he named his pontoon boat "Pon-Tunes" and would blast his music for all to hear.  He was a regular at the Broken Oar Bar which was just a "fall down and a get up" from his front door.  As Terry's hair grayed over the years, he picked up a new nickname from his friends.  Everyone knew him as "Silver". On October 2, 2005, a new and exciting person was introduced to Terry who changed his life forever.   Terry was presented with a grandson, Elija Hartman.  Eli was the apple of Terry's eye and he enjoyed spending time with his grandson on the river, teaching him how to fish and drive the boat.  Terry also loved to take trips to Oregon to visit Tonya, Tonya's husband, John, and Eli.Terry is survived by his wife of 47 years, Connie (Wilcken); his daughter and son-in-law, Tonya and John Hartman, and grandson Elija, Sherwood, OR.  He is also survived by his sister, Bonnie and her husband, Jack Werner, Mandan; his brother, Jeff and his wife, Meredith (Jo) Ehli, Bismarck. Terry also leaves brothers-in-law and wives, Jim (Ellen) Wilcken, Long Island, NY, Don (Marla) Wilckens, Great Falls, MT, and Mike (Diane) Wilcken, Bismarck.  He leaves sisters-in-law and husbands, Joan (Ken) Platt, Helena, MT, and Sandra (Ron) Glaser, Bismarck. Terry also leaves special friends, Greg Morrell, Eric Moritz, Stacy Keller, Jack Gabriel, Paulie Feichert, Dan Kling, Jamie Holte; and so many more than can be named, but they all know who they are.  Terry was preceded in death by his father, Martin; mother, Billie; brother, Martin "Punk" Ehli, Jr.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Egon and Mildren Wilcken.