October 21, 1955 - September 6, 2026
Funeral services for Terry Long, 70, of Pierre and formerly of Timber Lake were held on September 16, 2026 at Kesling Funeral Chapel, Mobridge. Terry died on September 6, 2026 at the Avantara Nursing Home in Pierre.
Terry Lee Long was born on October 21, 1955 to Maxine (Cudmore) and Kenneth Long in Mobridge. He was the fifth child and joined siblings Myrna, Kenny, Ronnie and Robert. He proudly claimed the nicknames of “Poncho” and “Cracker.”
He graduated from Timber Lake High School in 1973 at the age of 17. During his high school years, he worked on the family farm which was the biggest hog producer in South Dakota. Following graduation, he moved to Wyoming and worked as a ranch hand, then moved to Sioux Falls where he built sewer lagoons and worked with a box culvert crew. He went back to Wyoming and worked in the oil fields and later took a job as a lineman. He climbed as high as 350 feet on a tower and up to 100 feet on a pole. He talked about working a ten-week period in which he was in ten different states, six of them twice.
In May 1981, Terry suffered a head wound in a shooting accident. He underwent surgery and months of therapy and was finally able to use his arms and legs again. Following rehabilitation, he became a certified taxidermist and opened his own business.
In October 1988, he suffered a stroke and was confined to a wheelchair.
He took college classes and worked as a volunteer host for the National Forest Service at the Pactola Visitor Center. Terry also worked as a volunteer for the Disabled American Veterans where he helped in the creation of commercial videos.
Although he was confined to a wheelchair, he practiced his philosophy of “Life Goes On.” The disability didn’t stop him from participating in Ski for Light for several years and winning numerous awards.
Due to health conditions, he eventually moved to the Golden Living Nursing Home in Mobridge and in January 2012, moved to Avantara Nursing Home in Pierre.
Terry never knew a stranger and made friends very easily. Despite his many challenges, he was usually happy and known to be quick witted and a jokester. He made a lasting friendship with one of the employees at Avantara Nursing Home and fondly nicknamed him “Buttercup.”
Terry loved playing cribbage with his card partner and best friend, Waldon Jewett. He couldn’t wait to get to Heaven to play a “good” cribbage game with Waldon and thought that he should probably take a new deck of cards with him.
Terry is survived by his son, Billy (Jennifer Bishop) Walters and their children, Nadia and Gideon; his sister, Myrna Fiddler; his brothers, Ronnie and Robert (Darshan) Long; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Kenneth and Maxine Long; brother Kenny Long; granddaughter Hailey; sister-in-law Lila Long; maternal grandparents Fred and Josie Cudmore; paternal grandparents Lawrence and Minnie Long; as well as several other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.