Terry Lester Propst, 76, of Festus and Theodosia died Aug. 18, 2026, at his home in Theodosia. Mr. Propst was the former owner and operator of De Soto Fuels Inc., P&P ATM, Eagle Wing ATM and Propst Auto Service in Festus. He was known as a hard, steady worker. His family joked that he had three loves in his life: his wife, his goldendoodle, Charlie Foxtrot, and flying airplanes, but not necessarily in that order. He was cancer-free for seven years, but when he was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2018, he shared that he wanted to build an airplane before he died, and he did. He flew his plane for the first time on March 7, 2023. His last moments were spent at his Lost Mine Airpark, in his airplane hangar, building his second airplane. Born July 11, 1950, in Crystal City, he was the son of the late Mollie (Statler) and Lester Propst.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years: Glenda (Willm) Propst; two who were like his children: Freddy (Mary Kate Kelly) Barnes and Emma (Gavin Kellough) Barnes; his brother-in-law and nephew: Mike (Pam) Dutton; 13 nieces and nephews who were more like siblings: Ron (Lynn) Dutton, Carol (the late Bob) Thomure, Norvel (Billie) Dutton, Wilford (Cindy) Dutton, Becky (Robert) Kausler, Stacy (Becky) Decker, Ed (Pat) Decker, Kenny Decker, Kim (Richard) Leftridge, Gloria Lowe, Lloyd (Mary Alice) Lucas, Tim (Carlene) Propst and Lisa (John) Mills; his best friends: Bryan and Paula Browne and Marty and Vicki Heck; the Farmington Flyers and their Lost Mine Resort lake family.
He was preceded in death by a brother: George E. (the late Anne) Propst; and four sisters: Iva Jean (the late Eugene Frank) Crocker, Mary Lou (the late Raymond) Lucas, Wanda (the late Garland) Dutton and Bonnie (Grant survives of De Soto) Decker.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. Darren Webb of Faith Baptist Church in Festus. Interment will follow in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to Dr. Lim’s Pancreatic Cancer Research at Washington University, MSC, 1082-414-7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, 63105, or Wings of Hope at wingsofhopengo.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.