Big Sky community remembers long-time friend and ‘brother’
By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER
In his final weeks, “Bo” Terry Thomas held what could have been Big Sky’s biggest celebration of life. Community members and friends from all over the country visited his hospital room at Big Sky Medical Center, though “visited” may be the wrong word. People stuck around with Terry for at least half the day or more.
That’s evidence of the Terry effect—the Big Sky local brought a sense of peace and comfort to anyone in his presence. Terry passed away on April 4, 2024 at 67 years old in Big Sky surrounded by loved ones.
“He was at peace … It made him feel loved and calm,” Mary Goodson said about Terry’s final weeks. Goodson is the sister-in-law of Terry, having married his twin brother Lance.
Goodson cared for Terry up until the end of his life, describing him as a “brother.” In the days since his death, Goodson and Lance have received letters upon letters, many noting the treasures that Terry gave to them.
Terry was known for filling his pockets with artifacts during his hikes, from arrowheads to trading beads. He was also known for showing community members and visitors alike where they could find their own.
Goodson recalled one instance, among many, when Terry brought a mutual friend’s children looking for arrowheads. Though the search was unsuccessful, there was something else to show for it. “They didn’t care,” Goodson said of the young boys. “It was the excitement of being out there.”
One boy “stuck right next to Terry, taking in everything Terry was saying.” For future family vacations, the boys always chose to spend time with the Thomas brothers in nature.
If there was a way to track all the treasures Terry gave away, it would probably appear like a thick web across the U.S., maybe even reaching far countries.
“For everything that he’s accumulated, there’s like nothing, because he’s given it away,” Goodson said. Her favorite Terry treasure is an amethyst, her favorite stone, which he found at a rock show. “It’s special,” she said.
Born on March 20, 1957, Terry grew up alongside his twin in Sacramento, California. Their parents, R.E. and Gladys Thomas, instilled the value of supporting and building community, and a passion for the outdoors.
Just three blocks from the Thomas family lived a best friend and soon-to-be fellow Big Sky local, “Bo” Tim Pattison. Brian Perin, another Sacramentan turned Montanan, also grew up with the Thomas family.
“Both those guys were like kind of my mentors you know, growing up, and their dad was too,” Perin said.
All four of the boys attended the same schools in Sacramento. Tim moved to Big Sky in 1974, followed by Lance in 1975, then Terry in 1989, and finally Perin’s move to Bozeman in 1994.
Perin remembers begging Terry and Lance to bring him along on weekend hunting trips growing up. When he grew old enough, Perin was finally able to join the twins with his new shotgun—the activity soon became weekend tradition.
Other memories stick with Perin: a 1977 Led Zeppelin concert in San Francisco, Terry’s first in-person NASCAR race, and walleye fishing, though Perin remains humble about his role in fishing tournaments they competed in.
“Well, he reeled it in, I netted it,” Perin said, laughing. For evidence of the duo’s fishing skills, look no further than their third place finish at the 2016 Montana North American Ice Fishing Circuit National Qualifying Tournament.
From a favor to friendship
Greg Hodge met Terry and Lance three decades ago in a fitting place: the backcountry. Hodge stumbled upon the pair when he was riding horseback and noticed the collection of shed antlers at their feet. After a short conversation, Hodge returned with his pack horse to help the brothers carry the antlers.
“They used to pack everything on backpacks and hike everything in on foot,” Hodge said, though that changed after the new friendship. Soon enough, they were hunting together, taking trips to Nevada and meeting family. The brothers got to know Greg’s first wife, Andrea, very well through all the time they spent together.
Hodge showed a picture of the late Andrea—she’s smiling in a flat brim hat. Andrea Hodge died in 2000, when a drunk driver collided head-on into the driver’s side of the car she was driving. Greg was in the passenger seat.
In the aftermath of Andrea’s death, Greg remembers Terry and Lance’s ongoing presence, sometimes dragging him out of his house to go for a drive or grab something to eat.
“There wasn’t a time those guys weren’t by my side during all of that. Probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them,” Hodge said. “They didn’t let me be alone. Yeah, not for long.”
Hodge used three words to describe Terry’s character: genuine, integrity and compassion. Though he reflected, “I could use 1,000 words.”
“He was good for the soul.”
Terry and Lance became godfathers of Greg’s son, Cody, with his second wife, Julie. They watched Cody’s first steps across the carpet toward the twins’ mom, Gladys.
Bears and Bos
Another regular on hunting trips, barbecues and starlit nights in the backcountry, “Bo” Tim shared some moments with Explore Big Sky. Bos are people who have developed strong dependability and integrity in the backcountry as well as in hunting and finding shed antlers. With a commitment to community and friendship, they’re a tight-knit group who have a deep love for the outdoors.
“Oh, I got a story,” Tim said.
Terry and Tim were out picking antlers one day when a black bear went at them. “So we started going up this Doug fir tree, and I got up first and he was right behind me. The branch broke off and [Terry] fell right on top of this bear,” Tim said. Equipped with bear spray, Tim made the executive decision to not employ the potent spray on both bear and Bo.
Luckily, the bear ran off toward her cubs. The pair lived to tell the tale.
Tim learned a lot from Terry. “He was a pretty mellow guy. You know … [if someone] gets in a situation, he goes, ‘it’s cool, man. Everything’s fine.’”
“Bo” Tim sits on a handmade bench in his workshop. Taking up much of the space is an in-progress bed made of pine, waiting for its next piece. In a corner over his right shoulder is a pile of antlers, a miniature version of the bed he’s crafting and memorabilia from decades of life. A picture of Tim, Terry and Lance is pinned against a shelf while he speaks.
This spring was the group’s 27th annual trip to Nevada, a spot that Bos—and friends of Bos—visit to camp, hike and search for artifacts. This was the first year Terry wasn’t there.
“We all sure miss Terry. I could feel his presence there when we were out hiking and around the campfire at night,” Tim said. In a search for arrowheads during the trip, Tim asked for some guidance.
“I’d be walking along and I’d go ‘okay, Terry, show me where there’s an arrowhead,’ and I take about two steps. And there’s an arrowhead, man.”
Tim described his hope that Terry might come back, though he knows it can’t happen, at least on this plane. “I’ll see him again someday. But yeah, it won’t be tomorrow … I hope.”
A memorial service for “Bo” Terry Thomas will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Riverhouse BBQ & Events. A celebration of life will follow. In April 2024, Sara Sipe and Mary Goodson created the “Bo” Terry Thomas Memorial Fund to support end-of-life-services in Big Sky for the community.
