- Date Of Birth: February 17, 1944
- Date Of Death: May 8, 2014
- State: Montana
May 8, 2014, at 3:18pm, Pastor Daryll Alan Dye was rewarded for his ministry and gifts when he crossed through the gate into the heavenly kingdom of God.
Daryll was born on February 17, 1944, in Hamilton, Montana to Walter and Elaine (Wilkerson) Dye. The Dye’s moved from Darby in 1950 to Anaconda and later to Opportunity. Daryll often said, “They moved here just for the ‘boom times’ and as soon as they’re over, I’m moving back!” Daryll excelled in football and ranked in the top 5 in state for wrestling before graduating from Anaconda Senior High in 1963. He then proudly served in the US Army and Army National Guard from June of 1963 until June of 1970 when he was honorably discharged.
Daryll married the beautiful wife of his youth, Jennifer Moses, in 1962. Together, they nurtured three amazing children, Tina, Melissa and Ty and shared more than 41 wonderful years of marriage.
On January 1, 1965, Daryll, Jennifer and his late father, Walter, started Dye’s Auto Parts in Anaconda. In December of 1999, Daryll sold the store after 35 years of serving community. The store had become not only a haven for stranded motorists, but also for the spiritually stranded.
Daryll had a servant’s heart and loved his community. He helped form the Anaconda Search and Rescue, was an Emergency Medical Technician, an American Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor, and later one of the first instructor trainers in the state. Daryll was instrumental in starting the first volunteer ambulance service in Anaconda. He also worked with the American Association of Retired Personshelping the elderly and low-income people with their tax returns.
He was a member of the Anaconda Amateur Radio Club for more than 40 years and served as President several times in addition to being a Volunteer Examiner (VE) for W5YI. His call letters were WB7SIM and K7DYE. He was proud to promote the hobby of Amateur Radio to young people and anyone else that would listen, and did not mind being referred to as a HAM Radio Operator.
Daryll volunteered for the Rotary Club of Anaconda’s “Live After 5” food booth, and in the concert series he shuttled people via golf cart to their concert seats and served as co-host to entertainers back stage. He was recently presented a Paul Harris Fellowship by Eileene at a rotary meeting with his daughters in attendance.
He was a member of the American Legion of Anaconda Post 21 and Honor Guard and filled in as the Chaplain when needed. He also enjoyed serving food to the public at their booth during Art in the Park and hosting a station at the annual veterans’ stand-down.
He served his Lord and Savior in many capacities from 1981 to 2004 at the Mount Haggin Baptist Church. Daryll was ordained in 1987 and was the Associate Pastor at Mt. Haggin for 18 years. Although he retired from Mt. Haggin, he never retired from the ministry of being a pastor. He especially enjoyed the many Anaconda and Butte area pastors whom he counted as close friends. For 35 years he led and shared a weekly men’s fellowship Bible study, had numerous home Bible study groups and was a Gideon. During the past 15 months his ministry took on a new direction at the St. James Cancer Center where he was an inspiration to everyone he encountered, both patients and staff. He always praised God for these new opportunities as he shared his experiences battling cancer.
He was blessed with his friend and companion following similar accidents when their spouses’ lives were abruptly taken from them. In 2008, Daryll married Eileene (Wright) Stevens of Butte. They shared many of the same interests. Their adventures included Rotary, American Legion and The Mile High Back Country Horseman Organizations, touring the countryside on their Goldwing Trike, sightseeing tours, and going on and hosting mission trips. He also added to his ministry by being the Chaplain at the Crest Nursing Home. Daryll enjoyed being part of the Election Sermon Series in the State Capitol Rotunda sponsored by Project Liberty Tree; believing that it was not only important to pray for government leaders but to hold them accountable for their actions.
