BILSON, Terence George
July 31, 1946 - February 14, 2012
Terence George Bilson passed away suddenly and peacefully on February 14, 2012. Said to be the first child born in the Monarch mining camp at East Coulee, Terry was born at the height of the Drumheller Valley’s coal mining boom as Vincent and Hazel Bilson’s first son. The Bilsons were lured to the valley from Edmonton at the end of WWII and Terry grew to appreciate cars and sports as he went on to attend high school in Drumheller in the 1960’s followed by his younger brother Doug and little sister Donna (Toivanen). After high school he joined the Bank of Nova Scotia, moving to Innisfail and later to various sales jobs in Calgary where he was reacquainted with Wendy (Sandercock). Terry returned with Wendy to Drumheller in 1978 and they were eventually married in October of 1979. Terry started working for PanCanadian Petroleum (now Encana) in 1982 as a field operator until moving to the main control centre in the Drumheller branch office in 1993. He would remain an extremely dedicated member of the Encana team until his retirement in January 2012. Terry enjoyed watching sports events, especially the Calgary Flames, Calgary Stampeders and Major League Baseball. He was also very involved in Drumheller Minor Hockey often acting as the team manager for bantam and midget teams. He was an active member of the Drumheller Kinsmen Club and shared the joy of singing with Wendy in the Knox United Church choir over several years. He was a proud father of 5 children who survive him as Michele (spouse Mark Bieganek), Brad (spouse Athena Winchester), Paul (spouse Victoria Salvatore), Todd and Curtis (spouse Carol Henriquez) all of which completed post-secondary education positively affected by his encouragement and quiet support. His role would later grow as the proud Poppa to grandchildren Vincent, Noah, Sierra, Maya, Juliette, Kiana and Santiago as he would continue to share his enthusiasm for railroading and life with them. Terry was predeceased by his mother Hazel and father Vincent and is survived by all his children, brother Douglas, sister Donna, nieces, nephews and loving wife, Wendy. A memorial service will be held at Knox United Church on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. The family requests that donations to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation 1-020 HRIF-East University Of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 9Z9 be made in lieu of flowers. Courtney-Winters Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements (403-823 -2666).
