Diane Ann Terry, 64, of Valley City, ND, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, in Fargo, ND.
Diane was born on August 3, 1961, in Brinkley, AR, to Nelson Sr. and Dellarene Brown-Terry.
Diane was a beloved sister, aunt, friend, and second mother to many. To know Diane was truly to love her. She had a special gift for making every person in her life feel seen, valued, and cared for. She always had a listening ear and an open heart for anyone who needed her.
There was never any doubt about Diane’s love for her family and friends. She adored her nieces and nephews and lovingly “adopted” many others along the way whom she loved just as much. She was the kind of aunt everyone hoped to have. Diane loved receiving pictures of the kids and proudly displayed countless photos of her brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends throughout her home.
She also loved to spread joy with handwritten letters and cards. You would know it was from Diane by the 100’s of stickers all over the envelope before you even opened it.
And then there was “Trippo.” If you truly knew Diane, chances are she called you “Trip” or “Trippo.” Many of us may never have known exactly where the nickname came from, but we all knew it was a term of affection. Over time, Diane earned the nickname herself, and she wore it proudly and playfully. Her family and friends will deeply miss hearing that silly, loving name.
Diane enjoyed life and treasured time spent with the people she loved. She loved going out to eat with friends, attending family gatherings, birthday parties, baby showers, and spending weekends at the lake. Although Diane didn’t care much for the water, she still loved riding on the pontoon just to be part of the fun.
Her faith was also important to her. Diane attended church and Bible study and often called her nieces and nephews to talk through the lessons and assignments with them. Many of them believed she was also making sure everyone just stayed sharp in their knowledge along the way. We loved this time with her!
Sports brought Diane so much joy as well. She often reminded everyone she had to be home before the game started. She loved watching the Los Angeles Lakers — especially because of LeBron James — and she was so happy she was able to finish watching their playoff run this year. Even during her hospital stays throughout much of the playoffs, her nieces and nephews made sure she never missed a game. Diane was also a loyal fan of the Dallas Cowboys, though she had admittedly been less than impressed with their performance in recent years.
You know a person was truly loved when it was rare to make it through a single day without someone asking about them. When Diane first moved to North Dakota, she worked at Hardees, where she left a lasting impression on many people she met. Later, she worked at Pizza Corner Factory in Valley City, where she gained another circle of friends and coworkers who dearly loved their “Trippo.”
Diane’s kindness, humor, love, faith, and unforgettable spirit touched countless lives. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the blessing of knowing her.
On May 15th, Diane was reunited with her parents Nelson Sr. and Dellarene Brown Terry, along with her siblings Harvey Terry, LeVester Terry, Janice Terry- Harris, and Larry Terry.
The memories of Diane will continue to live on in the hearts of her family. Surviving brothers: Willie (Mary) Terry of Greenville, MS, Nelson Terry Jr of Little Rock, AR, Anthony (Tina) Terry of Pine Bluff, AR, and Tracey Terry of Wheatley, AR. Sisters: Diretha (Scott) Anderson of Valley City, ND and Sheryl Terry of Wheatley, AR. Uncles: LeeAndrew Terry of Springdale, AR, Nathaniel (Sandra)Terry of Long Island, NY. Aunts: Martha (James) Caldwell of Benton Harbor, MI, Shirley Swanigan of Little Rock, AR. She is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends who will greatly miss her.
Diane’s funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 27 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Valley City. Visitation will be at the church, Tuesday, May 26 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, with a prayer service beginning at 7:00. She will be laid to rest in Memory Gardens Cemetery near Valley City. Traditions Funeral Services is assisting the Terry family with arrangements. An online guestbook and tribute page can be found at www.lerudmathias.com
We ask that you wear purple, Los Angeles Lakers gear, or Dallas Cowboys attire to honor Diane. She would have loved seeing all of her favorite people wearing some of her favorite things. But most importantly, if you don’t have any of those, please still come celebrate a life that was truly well lived.