John F. Ternes II

John F. Ternes II. John Frederick Ternes II (J.) passed away at the age of 73 in Bozeman, Montana on May 29, 2023, after a years-long affliction with Frontotemporal Dementia.

J. was born on March 29, 1950, in his hometown of Dubuque, Iowa to parents John F. Ternes (Butch) and Tereso Ann “Terry” (Dahlstrom) Ternes. J. was the second eldest of seven siblings in the Ternes family (Jeff, J., Jane, Jud, Jennifer, Julie, and Joel). His family moved around the midwest often while opening Kresge and later Walmart stores throughout his childhood, but he always came back to Dubuque as his hometown. “Jaybird” attend-ed high school at Wahlert Catholic High School, graduating in 1968. Throughout his childhood he was educated at Catholic schools in each of the towns the family moved to. He attended the Catholic Church throughout his life and served as an altar boy and later as a member of the Knights of Columbus. J. was a high school and collegiate athlete playing both Football and Baseball at a collegiate level. During his time in junior college, J. led the nation in interceptions as a Strong Safety. After Ju-Co he attended a few different universities before finding his happy place in Emporia, Kansas at the Kansas State Teacher’s College. J. graduated with a Biology and Secondary Education Degree and spent time as a Grad Assistant in the Football Program. He loved attending his football alumni games at “Euphoria State,” and enjoyed his college experience to the fullest where he played football with life-long friends.

J. met his match at Emporia State, and later married his love, Denise Toevs-Ternes. Together they built a family and welcomed two daughters: Danielle Claire and Vanessa Jayne. J.’s love for his girlies was evident in the care and devotion he approached fatherhood with. When selecting a place to raise their family, J. scientifically chose the Black Hills of South Dakota as the best place to put down roots. There, he and Denise served as teachers and coaches for 30+ years in Belle Fourche. Prior to that they taught and coached in Perryville, Missouri where he was named the Missouri Class 4-A Football Coach of the Year. They founded the Bar JFT Ranch just outside of Belle Fourche, where the girls enjoyed their rural childhoods to the fullest. J. had a great group of teacher friends in Belle Fourche and he loved to hang with them telling stories and riding motorcycles. J. enjoyed his 1977 Harley Davidson Sportster and could often be found cruising the Black Hills on his various Harley bikes and trike. Every year friends traveled to the Black Hills to ride during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. J. had a unique sense of humor and enjoyed shocking people with stories and anecdotes. Jaybird was fascinated with the paranormal, as he himself, was paranormal. He reveled in surprising people with his humor and intelligence.

J. is survived by his wife, Denise, and daughters Danielle (Aaron) Schwieterman, and Vanessa (Rob) Ternes, grandchildren: Weston and Aubrey Schwieterman, and J.’s siblings: Jennifer (Bill) Murry, Julie (Greg) Oakhill, and Joel Ternes, and numerous nieces and nephews.

J. is preceded in death by his parents, and siblings: Thomas Jeffery Ternes, Dr. Justin Ternes, and Jane Ternes Kelly.

Thank you to Spring Creek Inn Memory Care for their excellent care of Jaybird at the end of his life.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD).

A private Celebration of Life is planned.