Terrance “Terry” Rutherford, 79, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Friday, October 21, 2022, at the Heritage House. He was born May 25, 1943, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Gilbert and Alice (Thoreson) Rutherford. He attended Dunbar Elementary School, transferring to LeGrand where he met his future wife, Rita, in the 9th grade. He graduated from the consolidated LDF School in 1961. Terry received his BS degree from the University of Iowa in 1965. That same year he married Rita Rhodes on June 13th.
In 1966, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Vietnam where he served as a combat medic. Memories of that horrible war remained with him all his life. He returned from the service and entered Drake University Law School and received his law degree in 1971. He was a 50-year member of the Iowa State Bar Association.
Terry and Rita made their home in Atlantic where he practiced law until 2013. They were inseparable and traveled extensively, rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, riding their motorcycle to Alaska, flying to Australia, China, Vietnam, and Europe, and traveling the rest of the world on cruise ships.
Terry is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rita, brothers, Gary (Louise) and Bradley (Paula), sister-in-law, Donna Long, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Alice Rutherford, his great-nephew, Grant Rutherford, and his brother-in-law, Don Long.
Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.
Burial, with military honors, will be Tuesday, November 1st at 11AM at the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery. The service will be recorded at available at https://www.rolandfuneralservice.com/
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Terry’s family and his arrangements.
