Terry Wiklund

Terry A. Wiklund, 76, of Mandan passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2024, in Mandan.

Military Funeral Honor Services and burial will be held at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. A celebration of life will follow at Shadd and Marnie Piehl’s home in Mandan, ND.

Terry was raised in Bismarck, ND by his adoptive parents Arvid and Faye (Hunn) Wiklund, and grew up with one sister, Rosemary. In November of 1980 Terry and Gretchen Bederman were married and had one son, Arvid John, better known as AJ.

As a teenager Terry frequently rode the rails between Bismarck and Mandan. He had stories of encounters with hobos and even a misadventure that took him all the way to Yakima, WA before he decided he needed to return home. Terry graduated from St. Mary’s Central High School in 1966 and then enlisted in the Navy. He received an Associate of Arts degree in 1971 from Bismarck Junior, a Bachelor of Arts in 1973 from Valley City State College, a Master of Art in painting in 1976 and a Master of Fine Art in painting in 1977 were both received from the University of Iowa. Terry studied studio photography in California at the Brooks Institute and Chicago, Il. He has a special love for creating art installations, assemblages, collages, and mixed media sculpture, but he also enjoyed painting and working with pastels. Terry entered his first art show with three oil paintings and a watercolor in 1965 in Rapid City at age 17. While a student, he entered the Prix de Rome international art competition and was one of five finalists, the others being professional artists. His final endeavors in photography led to an exhibition of landscape photo paintings in 2019 at the Bismarck Art & Galleries Association.

Terry worked for the North Dakota Department of Transportation for about 20 years as the section leader for Audio Visual in the Communications Division. He credits NDDOT with saving his and his wife’s lives with a phone call for the job offer that arrived in time to wake them as an electrical fire had started in their home leading to a total loss. During his time at NDDOT he worked closely with the Cultural Resources Section by directing multiple bridge documentation films, found on the NDDOT website. Terry and his team received recognition in 2010 with a Telly Award for the Four Bears Bridge – It’s History and Construction. He also had a deep passion for collaborating with Tribes that have historical ties to North Dakota and directed interviews and recordings for the NDDOT.

Terry was adopted and mentored by his Lakota friend Joe Flying By of Standing Rock. They met when Terry and AJ were on a road trip to SD, and he started inquiring about red flags he had seen off the road. When Terry arrived at the door, Joe asked, “What took you so long?” Joe had dreamt of Terry’s arrival and was waiting. Through Joe’s spiritual guidance, he learned to run a sweat lodge and regularly continued this tradition for 20 years along the Heart River in Mandan.

Terry leaves behind his son, Arvid John (AJ) Wiklund, Mandan; sister Rosemary Bingeman; niece Pam Bingeman; his furry companions Boots, Lucky, Sassy, Buddha, Mardi, and Buddy, as well as his friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and dear friends.

In remembrance of Terry’s deep love for his cats and dogs, please consider donating to Kitty City, Mandan.