Terry Alexander Bicknell

January 6, 1941 ~ May 6, 2013

May 11, 2013

Terry Alexander Bicknell was born on January 6, 1941, to William Jay and Ruby Esther (Collins) Bicknell in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He departed this life on May 6, 2013, at the extended care unit in Bonners Ferry, Idaho after a lengthy illness.

Terry grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, in and around his parents’ boarding house during World War II. While in his late teens he worked summers in Stone Mountain Park, where he rode horses as he reenacted western scenes for the train passengers.

In his 20s and 30s Dad was an avid motorcyclist; even making a cross country trip to California. He was a man of many talents whose life was full even though cut short by his illness, robbing him of the ability to function.

At the age of 19, Dad joined the Air National Guard where he served 28 years as an electronics technician. Terry enjoyed framing and construction work, dabbling in various small business endeavors and most anything that allowed him to be in God’s great outdoors.

On May 25, 1968 in Atlanta, Terry was joined in marriage to Suellen Krabill of Louisville, Ohio. To their marriage was born three sons and one daughter.

Shortly after their marriage, always the adventurous type, Dad and Mom picked up and moved out to remote Western Montana. Here, while Mom taught school, Dad worked construction. In the late 1970s, Terry and Suellen built and ran a “Mom and Pop” mercantile store in Yaak, Montana, on the Idaho-Montana border for 10 years. In the late 1980s he moved the family to Bonners Ferry, where he operated a lawn care business and began a portable storage business.

One of the last things he did before the illness took over was to construct a nice home for his family.

Terry spoke of a conversion experience at the age of twelve, but stated he did not grow in his Christian life for many years. In 1980 God gave the couple a son, Frederick. Frederick survived only a few days and through this Terry turned once again to the Lord. During family devotion time Terry’s favorite songs were “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” and “Onward Christian Soldiers.”

Dad’s family was a very important part of his life. Always wanting all of us to be together, he took us on many road trips. The longest of which was a four month “mega” trip around the USA. Very often our shorter trips would involve visiting historical sites or national parks.

Those surviving are wife Suellen of Bonners Ferry, son Conrad and wife Leonie and their two sons: Vincent and Elias, all of Foster City, California; Malesha of Scio, Oregon; John and wife Brittany and son Spencer of Bonners Ferry; sister-in-law Dorothy Bicknell, Flowery Branch, Georgia; sister-in-law Louanne Zakaski (Jim) of Louisville, Ohio; brother-in-law Joe Krabill (Teri) of State College, Pennsylvania; brother-in-law David Krabill (Jackie) of Jacksonville, Florida; and several nieces and nephews.

Terry was preceded in death by his infant son Frederick; his mother and father; and his only sibling, William Jay, Jr.

The family would like to thank the Boundary County ECF Staff for their wonderful service and all the others that have helped us through this time.

Funeral Services were held May 10 at Mountain View Mennonite Church, Bonners Ferry, with ministers Shane Ensz, Glenn Ensz, Willis Dyck, and Ben Nystrom officiating. Interment followed in Mountain View Cemetery, Bonners ferry.

Family and friends are invited to sign Terry’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.