W. Terry Lins

W. Terry Lins, 78, of Great Falls, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 11, 2020, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 18, 2020, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. A funeral liturgy will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. with burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery following the service. Terry was born on November 6, 1941, in Great Falls, Montana to Walter and Marie (Lesofski) Lins. He attended Great Falls High School, class of 1959. Terry was very proud of his family and his painting roots. He followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father and pursued a career in the painting trade. He later became General Representative for the IBPAT. He was a member of Painter’s Local 260 for 61 years. He married his soul mate, Mary Jane Senger on June 15, 1963. Together they had 3 children. His life’s work was always advocating, protecting and providing for others, from the workers that he represented to his friends, but most importantly, his family. As retirement grew near, he knew that his work was not done. He and Mary Jane brought their dream to fruition, and built a homestead in Lincoln. This is where he was most content and happy. A teacher at heart, he often started a sentence with, “Let me tell you something” and one knew that a lesson was about to occur. He was always teaching his kids, grandkids and anyone else who was willing to listen. Whether it was through a simple conversation, to drive learning, fix or build anything and everything from small projects to garages. Boy did he build garages, 4 to his resume. He built them to store his “toys,” side by sides, 4-wheelers, antique cars, and tools. He will be remembered by all for his infectious belly laugh, his integrity and generosity, his ability to fraternize with vice presidents of the United States or comfort a stranger who, inevitably, he would call friend. Terry is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Jane Lins; children, Brad (Deb) Lins and Mike (Leia) Lins both of Great Falls, and Anne (Blayne) Bafaro of Hillsboro, OR; eight grandchildren, Christopher Lins of Great Falls, Melissa (Beau) Dellwo of Simms, Brett Bafaro of Portland OR, Brayden Bafaro of Edmond, OK, Bryan Bafaro of Hillsboro OR, and Gracie, Haley, and Joey Lins all of Great Falls; brother, Bob (Carol) Lins of Big Fork; sister-in-law Patsy Brennan of Great Falls; special aunt, Anne (Lesofski) Hassett; best friend and brother in spirit, Dave (Michale) Mitchell; and countless cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Art and Stella Lins; parents, Walt and Marie Lins; father and mother-in-law, Roy and Helen Senger; brothers-in-law, Bill Brennan and Ron Senger; and great-nephew, Jason Brennan. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Peace Hospice or the Sletten Cancer Institute.