Memorial services for 71-year old retired Chadron dentist Dr Terry Owen will be held Friday, July 26, 2024 at 2:00 at the Chadron Seventh-Day Adventist Church
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Chadron SDA Church, PO Box 351, Chadron, NE, 69337. The Terry Owen Memorial Fund will be used for the Thrive Center addition, currently under construction.
Online condolences may be left at osheimschmidt.com.
Terry Eugene Owen was born on July 10, 1952, to Dr Bernard and Eunice Owen and passed away on June 7, 2024.
Throughout his childhood, Terry lived in Hay Springs and Rushville, NE, following his father’s work as a general physician. During this time, he developed an immense appreciation for excellent food and homemade ice-cream, thanks to his mother, whose culinary skills could never quite be matched in Terry’s eyes.
Terry attended Platte Valley Academy before transferring to Rushville High School, where he particularly enjoyed the sports programs. He made lifelong friends at both schools and graduated in 1970.
He continued his education at Union College in Lincoln, NE, where he made many more lifetime friends. Most significantly among them was the love of his life, Brenda Voth. The two were married on May 27, 1973.
In 1977, while attending the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Terry and Brenda welcomed their first son, Zachary. That same year, Terry had a motorcycle accident, breaking his femur, making his final year of dental school and first year of fatherhood especially memorable.
After completing dental school in 1978, the young family moved to Chadron, where they established Owen Dental Care, starting with humble beginnings and just hoping the phone would ring.
Their family was further blessed with the births of Lacey in 1980 and Jonathan in 1982. As the family grew, so did the dental office. Terry loved his profession, particularly for the opportunities it gave him to visit with the people of his cherished community.
His appreciation for his career was evident to his children, all of whom decided to follow in their father’s footsteps and pursue professions in the dental field. A highlight in Terry’s life was a period when his entire family worked together at Owen Dental Care.
Terry was deeply devoted to his family, involving them in all the activities he enjoyed, especially traveling, hiking, waterskiing, and swimming. Wherever he was, if there was a body of water nearby, he would be in it, coaxing family and friends to join him, regardless of the temperature!
The most significant passion he shared with his family, though, was his love for God. Terry was a lifelong member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He was dedicated to serving God and the local church, and helping others develop a closer relationship with our Savior.
His love for God and people was unmistakable, and he wished for nothing more than for all of us to spend eternity together.
Terry was preceded in death by his father and mother Dr Bernard and Eunice Owen and his sister and brother-in-law Cindy and Dr Doug Stokes.
He is survived by his wife Brenda Owen; children Zachary (Karyn) Owen of Crawford, NE, Lacey (Mitch) Merkel of Guelph, ND, and Jonathan (Kimmi) Owen of Chadron; grandchildren Jackson, Levi, Reese, Bristol, Ethan, Quinn, Eva, Gavin, Hudson, and Pearl; sisters Dixie (Lowell) Gaswick of Lincoln, and Pat (Vern) Peterson of Topeka, KS; as well as nieces, nephews, and countless other cherished family members and friends.
Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City is in charge of arrangements for Terry Owen.