July 9, 1935 ~ Feb. 1, 2021
Terah Lynn Billings, 85, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada.
Born on July 9, 1935 in Delta, Utah to Gerald Oraian and Anna Wilcox Billings. Grew up in Delta on the family farm where he enjoyed raising animals. Had a particular love for and talent with horses. Graduated from Delta High School, then he went to work as a cheesemaker at the Creamery. In 1956 he was drafted into the US Army and stationed two years in Washington DC. During his service performed duties as guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After being discharged, called at 25 years old to serve as an LDS missionary in the North Central States. Attended Utah State University, then employed by Thiokol as a plant operator and later as security guard.
In 1957, while on leave during his military service, he was set up on a blind date back in Salt Lake. There he met Joye Wright. Their relationship blossomed, and Terah married the love of his life in the Salt Lake Temple on November 22, 1963. Terah began working as a milkman for Hi-Land Dairy in Salt Lake. Terah loved his hometown of Delta; he attended Salt Lake City Trade Tech and became a barber hoping to open a shop back in Delta. However, he was given a job at the Mill Hollow School with the Granite School District as a bus driver, custodian and maintenance manager. He moved his family to Holladay and in his mid-thirties he decided to again pursue a college degree, attending classes at the University of Utah. He then was employed as a Monroc truck driver delivering concrete. He retired from Monroc in 2000 after 29 years. Free to again enjoy working the soil, Terah and Joye bought a little farm in La Verkin, Utah, and enjoyed tending peach trees, raising a small herd of goats, and growing vegetables.
Terah enjoyed swimming, fishing, camping, horses and the family farm in Delta. Above all he loved his family. He was father of 9 children, and second father to many kids in the neighborhood. Served years as boy scout leader. Loved time spent on family vacations. Each summer he packed up his family and they hit the road. He took all his children across the United States, Canada, Alaska, Mexico and Hawaii. As Joye says, "Terah has always been a Grand Man."
Survived wife: Joye; children: Tonya, Zachary, Benjamin, Raquel, Joshua, MaryAnna, Seth, Adam, and Rebekah. 32 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; siblings: Arlene Billings, Wanda Barker, Fenton Billings, Bryce Billings. Preceded in death by siblings: Geraldine Carter, Lucile Western, Cecil, Howard and George Billings, Blanche Mathews.
Funeral attended by family: Thursday, February 11, at 2:30 p.m. Friends invited to view recorded video of service. Link will be posted with obituary at www.nicklemortuary.com by Thursday evening. Burial with military honors in Delta City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers his family encourages donations to the charity of your choice in Terah's honor.
