Theresa McDonald

Theresa (Terrie) Ann McDonald, 77, of Florence, passed away on Saturday, July 26th, 2025, at her home after her battle with cancer.

She was born July 14th, 1948 in Helena to Joseph and Rose (Richard) Kerscher. She grew up riding bikes and roller skating on dirt roads and cutting out clothes for her paper dolls with her two sisters. She attended Carrol College where she met her husband James (Jim) McDonald from Geyser, MT, before attending and graduating from St.James Community School of Nursing in Butte, MT.

Terrie married Jim on August 30th, 1969 in Helena, MT, then moved to Missoula, MT. Terrie worked as a geriatric nurse while Jim finished his accounting degree at the University of Montana. They soon started their family, then moved to Great Falls. Terrie raised their three daughters, before becoming a manager for Weight Watchers. She was active in their church and always volunteered for her daughters’ school programs and activities. A few years later, she was called to welcome in a special needs foster child into their household who then became a permanent part of their family.

They made another move to Colstrip, MT where she was active in their community, where she enjoyed decorating the church for it’s different seasons.

Terrie and Jim decided to retire in the Missoula area, where she said they never should have left.

Terrie enjoyed gardening, creating a welcoming and comfortable home, spending time with family and spoiling her pets. She will fondly be remembered for her work at the church, and most importantly her sense of humor. She was well known for her pranks, puns and one liners. She loved watching the Griz football, and trash talking her Seahawks loving relatives.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her son, Ian.

Survivors include her husband, Jim, Florence; two sisters Joni Sewell of Marysville, WA; Linda Moats of Meridian, ID; three daughters Tracy (Keith) Johnson of Ulm, Heather McDonald of Florence, Jennifer (Jeff) Tillson of Monmouth IL, and two grandchildren, two dogs, and a cat.

A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.