A Mass of Christian Burial for Terry F. Lefor of Roseau, MN will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 10:00AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Roseau, MN. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 5-7PM with a prayer service at 7PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Roseau and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will take place at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette, MN.
Terry was born on June 15, 1944, in Dickinson, North Dakota, to Victor and Caroline (Messmer) Lefor. He was the fourth of nine children and grew up on the Lefor homestead, spending the first few years of his life in a sod house before the family moved into the community of Lefor. He spent his childhood working on the family farm raising dairy cattle, pigs, and small grain crops. He attended St. Elizabeth Catholic School, where he was taught by the Benedictine nuns, and graduated in 1962.
Following graduation, Terry enlisted in the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and then attended technical training in the Electronics Principles Department at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, graduating in February 1963. His first and only assignment brought him to Baudette Air Station with the 692nd Radar Squadron in northern Minnesota until his honorable discharge in 1966. During his station in Baudette, Terry met his future beautiful wife, Ann, at Tom’s Café where she worked. The two were married on August 5, 1967, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baudette. They later moved to Fridley, Minnesota, where Terry worked for Bell Telephone and attended school at Control Data Institute for electronic repair training. He was then hired by Automatic Electric of Illinois and sent to Prüm, West Germany, where he installed military telecommunication systems at various bases up until 1970. It was at this time that Terry, Ann and little Timmy, returned to the United States and settled into the Minneapolis area to where Terry returned to work for Bell Telephone. In August of 1978, they moved to Roseau, Minnesota, where they made their permanent home and continued to raise their family.Terry and Ann celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this past August, to which their union blessed them with four children: Timothy, James, Aaron, and Sarah and 10 grandchildren.
Terry was a humble, kind, and generous man with a deep love for his faith, family, and life. He enjoyed history, stamp collecting, playing 5 Crowns, searching the woods for wildflowers with Ann, watching the hummingbirds each spring, cabin weekend getaways, ranger rides in the woods, and his more recent hobby—tracking deer and other wildlife at their cabin in Carp through trail cameras. His favorite time of the year was Opening weekend of Deer camp at the cabin with the Boys of the Carp City Hunting Club.
Terry was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Roseau, a lifelong member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus and served on various councils, and the Communications Workers of America Union (CWA), where he served as president for Northwestern Minnesota area. His greatest pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. He loved attending their activities, including sporting events and concerts. Terry and Ann also enjoyed traveling together, visiting Alaska, Arizona, Boston, Ohio, and Maine to spend time with family.
Terry is survived by his beloved wife, Ann; his children: Timothy (Leslie) of Boston, MA; James (Jennifer) of Superior, WI; Aaron (Janet) of Greenbush, MN; and Sarah (Jared) Copeland of Phoenix, AZ; and his grandchildren: Ryan, Meagan, Caius, Nathan, Perpetua, Aurelia, Tiberius, Sabina, Marcus, and Flora. He is also survived by his siblings: Jerome (Kathy) Lefor of Beaverton, OR; Betty Lou Slaney of Sacramento, CA; Leslie (Cindy) Lefor of Fresno, CA; Donna Mae (Bill Allen) Nelson of Prior Lake, MN; Thomas (Cindy Mann) Lefor of Greeley, CO: his Brother-in-Law John Hoscheid, Baudette, MN and Sister-in-Law Patricia Zulkosky, Anchorage, AK.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Caroline; his brothers, Victor James, Gregory, and Robert (Rose) Lefor; 3 grandbabies; and his in-laws, Wesley and Lucille Hoscheid.
Last modified: 12/03/2025
