Ralph G Terhaar

Ralph George Terhaar of Greencreek, Idaho entered into eternal rest surrounded by his loving wife A. Celine "Sally" (Uhlorn) Terhaar and family on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at St. Mary's Hospital in Cottonwood, Idaho. He was 87 years old.
Ralph was the second son born to Raymond F. Terhaar and Freda M. (Arnzen) Terhaar on April 1, 1938. Being born on April Fool's Day contributed to his fun-loving personality. He was born and raised on a family farm outside of Greencreek, Idaho. The farm has been in the family since 1895. He was one of seven children: Thomas (Irene) Terhaar, Kenneth (Dottie) Terhaar, Mary Ellen (Stew) Hollingsworth, George (Sue) Terhaar, Marge (Rick) Lamb, and Irma (Ron) Edwards. Ray and Freda instilled in their children values of faith, family, and hard work.
Ralph was a student in the Greencreek schools. He rode a horse to school until 6th grade with his brothers and neighbors- the Tackes and the Wassmuths. Although he claimed to be an angel, evidence shows that he sometimes "whispered too much" according to early report cards found by his children. He graduated from Greencreek High School in 1956, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. In high school, he was very competitive and liked to retell old sports stories. He enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids play sports too-often "encouraging and coaching" from the stands. A trait some of his children also share!
Ralph spent two years of study at Gonzaga University, where he accumulated more good times and good friends than good grades. While he was in college, Sally Uhlorn asked Ralph to a Sadie Hawkins dance in Greencreek in 1957. Ralph returned home to eventually take over the family farm and ranch, working with his dad and also milking cows. On Christmas Eve, 1959, Ralph asked Sally to be his bride. They married in June of 1960 in Ferdinand.
Sally and Ralph continued farming and ranching for the rest of his years. Together they had 10 children: Laurie (Dan) Karel of Cottonwood, Curt (Joan) Terhaar of Greencreek, Rhonda (Jim) Wemhoff of Winona, Barby (Kraig) Carroll of Idaho Falls, Camille (Kevin) Talbot of St. George, UT, Carol (Greg) Adams of Boise, Jill (Robert) Terhaar Lewis of Summerville, SC, Andy (Molly) Terhaar of Greencreek, Kevin (Angie) Terhaar of Spokane, WA, and Paul (Becky Boone) Terhaar of Boise. They also have 29 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, as well as a plentiful crop of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Freda Terhaar, his parents-in-law Aloysius and Scholastica "Calista" (Duman) Uhlorn, siblings Ken Terhaar, Tom Terhaar, and Marge Lamb, son Curt Terhaar, son-in-law Dan Karel, daughter-in-law Joan Terhaar, grandchildren Alia Wemhoff and Quinn Hall, as well as in-laws Cletus and Peg Uhlorn, Rita and Mark Forsmann, Edna and Walt Ruhoff, Gerald and Joanne Uhlorn, Irma and Don Tacke, Jane and Don Hoene, Sr. Angela Uhlorn, Vern and Peg Uhlorn, Maurus and Karen Uhlorn, Sr. Cecile Uhlorn, Merna and George Gehring, Stew Hollingsworth, and Rick Lamb, as well as some nieces and nephews.
Ralph was a devout member of St. Anthony's Parish in Greencreek and a longtime member of the St. Anthony's Choir with his wife. He was a member of the St. Anthony's Society and the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed trapshooting at the Cottonwood Gun Club, where he won many awards. He especially enjoyed competing against nephew Andy Uhlorn and friends George Seubert and Mike Long while trap shooting. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as horseback riding and four-wheeling. He was a member and officer of Cattleman's Association for many years. He also served as a commissioner for the Greencreek Highway District for twelve years.
Ralph was a renaissance man-strong, artistic, musical, smart, fun, and hardworking. He also spent several years making silver jewelry as a hobby for his family and friends. Anyone who has silver bracelets or other jewelry made by Ralph are invited to wear them to the funeral. He expressed his creativity in many ways – designing and engineering solutions to everyday problems, singing, playing guitar, and writing cowboy poetry. He has performed as a poet, reciting both his own and his favorite cowboy poetry.
So many in the community knew him as "Uncle Ralph" even if they were not related! He was a loving father. He taught his family how to work, how to have fun, how to tell a story, how to hold and burp a baby, and how to pray, and to love your family. He also taught us how to take time to sing and play a few chords on the guitar and to find joy in whatever you are doing, whether it is picking rocks, pulling a calf, or taking a Sunday drive by the river. He was a genuine American cowboy.
The services for Ralph G. Terhaar will be held on Wednesday, January 7 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Greencreek, Idaho. A rosary will begin at 10:30 am, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at the Greencreek Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: St. Anthony Society, PO Box 166, Cottonwood, ID 83522.