Darrel Paul (March 19, 1952 €” May 15, 2018) Rosin

Darrel Paul Rosin, 66, peacefully ascended to the heavens on May 15, 2018, from his home in Broadview. He bravely battled cancer for close to eight months, during which he spent time visiting his family and friends, celebrating the Christmas season and making his heroic 1,400 mile trip to his desert home in Maricopa, Arizona. He lived out his dreams alongside his wife Rachel a faithful and loving companion of 20 years. "Best years of my life" - Rachel.

Darrel Rosin was born in Billings on March 19, 1952, to Adolph and Essie Rosin, and was the youngest of nine siblings, including six brothers and two sisters. He grew up on a farm in Hesper and moved to Billings at age 6 when he lost his father. His brothers were his mentors and he idolized them. At 19, he met Cathy Marvin horseback riding, soon they were married, and, in 1972, Tara was born. That same year they embarked on a 20-year adventure in Alaska. Sissy (Dawn) was born in 1973 in Soldotna, where Darrel could be close to his four brothers and their families who lived there. He truly cherished the family oyster feeds and sharing the holidays, especially Christmas, with his large family.

While in Soldotna, Darrel provided a home and handmade furniture for his young family. He could always make do with little and create something big. With an uncommon ingenuity, Darrel was able to craft a beautiful home and a lawn revered by many. He established a career in drywall and found his passion in taping and texturing (mudding), which developed into self-made business Rosin Drywall and Painting. A man of rigor and impeccable skill, he created a trade that lasted for 30 years, long after he left Alaska. He was crafty, innovative, quite ingenious and an impeccable visionary. He could fix, fashion and renovate almost anything, and always to the point of perfection.

His favorite hobby was restoring antique automobiles. He fully restored a 1947 DeSoto, a 1961 Imperial and 1968 Mustang. He also enjoyed playing his banjo with his brothers in family gatherings, while singing and listening to his brother Orval play. He loved the adventures Alaska had to offer including fishing, hunting, snowmachining and family boating and camping trips.

After the kids were raised, Darrel returned home to the state of Montana in 1992 for the next chapter of his life.There, he was able to live out his farm dream again in Shepherd. He fell in love with Montana's big sky and loved to drive the open plains, where he could see for miles. In 1994, he met Rachel and they were married in 1997. He and his wife shared the same dreams and interests: a fondness for collecting antiques. Together, they briefly opened a small business called Second Childhood, which reignited his fondness for collecting antique toys, pedal bikes, bicycles and antique furniture, in Billings. He also opened up his own version of the Bucking Horse Saloon in Huntley, where he lived with his wife, which featured a wide range of collectibles from the '30s, '40s, and '50s. During this time, he also learned to make whiskey from his Uncle Alvin's old copper still. This shared passion for antiques sparked his desire to acquire collectibles ranging from toys and rare vases to pictures and furniture, showcasing "all his treasures" in their home. Darrel fully became a collector extraordinaire.

In this season of life, he also renewed his interest in making music. He always had enjoyed his banjo, but in his 60s, he took lessons to learn to play guitar as well, learning to sing and perform for family and friends. Ever a man to live life full throttle, he built music studios in both Huntley, Broadview and Maricopa in Arizona to help contain his joy and expression of music.

The culmination of Darrel's life's work and display of his many talents is captured best in his Arizona home. A passionate project rooted in planning, design, blood, sweat and tears, Darrel poured his heart into the beloved land, leaving no stone unturned, revealing every path with deep regard for all living creatures, birds, and cactus. Upon completion of his accomplishment, he found great peace and serenity in the desert landscape. The benches he built, the tailored pathways, sculpted walls, custom designed ceilings and floors, including the music studio and observatory for watching the stars, is a perfect display of Darrel Paul Rosin. He spent his final months in this sanctuary with his wife by his side.

Darrel was a man who truly lived life in an authentic manner. He captured and renovated things he loved and cared about. He loved sharing the beauty of this world with those he loved and often did so by lovingly collecting them for display. He made everything he touched into something more, something embedded with talent and meaning. He is one of the most memorable, original and loving people that most have ever met. He is also one of the most industrious people this planet has seen. He has been described as innovative, inspiring, musical, determined, a collector, a tinker, gregarious, child-like, adventurous, dedicated, hopeful and inspired. He found joy in nature through trees, plants and all things of the land. He always said he would have been a great archaeologist. He was whole, he was open and he was raw. All those who had occasion to meet him benefited from his presence, as he carried such an irresistible zeal for life that it was contagious. He was truly a bright light in this world. As wisdom comes with age, he impressed upon his daughters that "We are only just camping here on earth" and that death wasn't the end gate. While we miss him and mourn the loss of his light, we carry it within us and celebrate his life by shining his light through our lives, as best we are able, to honor him.

Darrel is survived by his wife, Rachel Rosin; two daughters, Dawn (Kane) Greenwade and Tara (Gary) Rosin Oberts; their mother, Cathy Rosin Pope; stepdaughters Wendy (Doug) Heigel and Chelsea Kuhn; stepson Dave Miller; siblings Donovan (Doug) Rosin, Arlene DeSaveur, Roger (Val) Rosin, Carolyn Hunt, Oren (Linda) Rosin and Tom (Linda) Rosin; grandchildren Dakota (Brenda), Savannah and Sterling Greenwade, Jerrod and Addelyn Oberts; and great-grandson Ryder Greenwade. He is preceded in death by his brothers Orval and Dave Rosin and sister-in-law Kathleen Rosin.

Public viewing is to be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave, Billings (406) 252-3417. Funeral service to be held at the same location at 11 a.m. Monday, May 21. Casual reception to follow.

His life was best exemplified by his enduring passion of uncovering uncommon beauty and restoring it to fullness, therefore, the family asks that in lieu of flowers to please send donations to the Montana Archaeological Society in Billings, PO Box 2123, Billings, MT 59103.