Darrel D. LaVoy, 67, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, Oct. 27, 2008.
Funeral services will be Thursday, October 30, 2008, at 2 p. m. at Smiths West Chapel, 304 34th St. West, Billings. Darrel was born on April 21, 1941, to Marvin and Adeline LaVoy in Mitchell, S.D. Darrel grew up in South Dakota and graduated high school in Chamberlain, S.D., in 1959. After graduation he joined the United States Army in 1960 and was stationed in Germany. In 1963 he received an honorable discharge and returned home to Chamberlain. On April 27, 1963, Darrel married Janice F. Fisher and they made their home in Pukwana, S.D. In 1968 Darrel moved to Montana and was employed with Ryan’s Western Warehouse foods, where he managed the Western Warehouse grocery stores in Lovell, Wyo., Glascow and Havre for 10 years. In 1978 Darrel decided to pursue a career in sales and trucking with Bert Tillman at Tri County Implement in Havre. In 1984 he moved his family from Havre to Buffalo, Wyo., where he went back to work for SuperValue (Ryan’s), located in Billings, as a non-foods sales representative and serviced the IGA grocery stores in Wyoming and Montana. Darrel moved back to Billings in 1992 and continued to work for SuperValue until his retirement in 2004. Darrel’s interests were riding his motorcycle and was actively involved in the local rainmakers motorcycle group. He served as the rainmakers' chapter president for the last three years. He loved his family and his wife with all his heart. Nothing meant more to him than riding his motorcycle, with Janice on the back, and being with his children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Darlene Myers. He is survived by his wife, Janice; sons, Brett of Havre and Craig of Billings; daughter, Dawn Maertens and her husband, Tom, of Banner, Wyo.; stepdaughter, Wendy Eskins and her husband, Mark, of Yankton, S.D.; six grandchildren; one step-grandson; brother, Roger; and sister, Marla.
