Terry Alma Katen Burgess, age 73, passed away peacefully while sleeping November 3, 2020 at Benefis Peace Hospice due to Alzheimer’s disease. A Memorial Service will be held on SATURDAY August 7, 2021 at the Belt Community Church at 4:00 PM.
She was born August 18, 1947 in Los Angeles, CA to Ret. Col Arthur Conrad Katen and Clara Louise (Lake) Katen. She moved to Belt, MT and married her friend and love, John Giles Burgess on July 1, 1966, who preceded her in death on February 19, 2015. They met onboard Marine Corps Base, Twenty-nine Palms, CA, where John was an MP and first met her after pulling her over. Terry’s second daughter, Connie Sue Burgess, 50 also proceeded her in death April 28, 2019. She is survived by her daughter, Donna Jean Burgess and sons, John G. Burgess JR, & Guy A. Burgess; sisters Graceinne Delaney and Becky Foster, along with 4 granddaughters, 7 grandsons and 2 great grandsons.
Terry was a dedicated mother who treasured her children and embraced every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Nana. She always had a flair for cooking and baking, she purchased and ran Belt’s Country Grill Café for a number of years. She was a strong independent woman, who not only managed the business, but also worked long hours cooking, waitressing, and baking the best homemade pies and cinnamon rolls to provide for her family. After selling the café, Terry took her cooking to the Belt Senior Center, where she cooked for a number of years, before she decided to relax and enjoy retirement with her husband.
She was a selfless woman, always tending to her husband’s and children’s needs, always with a beam of pride when with her family. During the summer, she would make homemade potato salad and fried chicken before we went camping so that she could relax, read and take a nap while the family was riding motorcycles. She also enjoyed worshiping and attending bible study at the Belt Community Church. She always put God first and would wake up early every morning to read the bible.
Terry will be missed by all whom she touched. Her family will never forget traveling with her across the USA and abroad, She especially loved Italy. The family never saw her more relaxed than when she was basking in the sun at the Mediterranean Sea or while enjoying the Sicilian cuisine. She loved Rome but her home and heart was definitely in Belt, MT. She loved the Huskies, the Belt Community Church and all of her friends.
A true Packers fan. The family will miss her excitement whenever they scored. Many a night was spent watching the games with her beloved family. The family that she could not have been prouder of.
Croxford Funeral Home has been entrusted with her care. Donations can be made in Terry’s name to Peace Hospice or to The Alzheimer’s Association. To leave condolences for the family please visit www.croxfordfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Terry Alma (Katen) Burgess, please visit our floral store.