Darrell Wayne Crabb

Darrell Wayne Crabb, age 78, of Osage, MN, formerly of Cooke City, MT, peacefully entered the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on March 10, 2014 at his home on Straight Lake, with his loved ones at his side following a valiant battle against cancer. Darrell was born on October 24, 1935 in Osceola, IA to Harold and Dorothy (Winter) Crabb. It was in Murray, Iowa that he attended public school, graduating from the Murray High School with the Class of 1954. He was a stand out athlete who played quarterback on Murray High's first ever football team. After high school, he operated heavy equipment working road construction throughout the region with his dad. He also worked the wheat harvest from Texas up into the Dakotas. As a young man, Darrell was united in marriage to Bonnie Leonard in 1956. This union was blessed with a son, Harold Wayne II and a daughter, Lorrie Lee. Darrell attended Vocational-Technical College in Lawrence, Kansas where he studied mechanical engineering. On November 13, 1970, Darrell was united in marriage to Patricia Dianne Polson-Whitney in Kansas City, MO. He gained employment with the Vendo Corporation and later with the Coors Brewing Company in Golden, CO as a mechanical engineer. In 1974, he and Patricia ventured to Cooke City, MT where they purchased the All Seasons Resort and Hotel which consisted of a 35 room hotel, a swimming pool, full service restaurant, a lounge, a full service gas station, and a Yamaha snowmobile and ATV dealership. Over the course of their ownership, Darrell had to hire and manage over 2000 employees. He was instrumental in helping the Yamaha corporation develop and test their prototype snowmobiles in the steep and rugged landscape of the Beartooth Mountains and he appeared in many of Yamaha's promotional videos. Over the years, Darrell led many search and rescue missions up into the mountains to find lost or stranded snowmobilers, hikers or hunters, because of his keen knowledge of the area. He also initiated the trail grooming program throughout the mountain trail system. For many years, Darrell served on the Cooke City Water and Sewer Board and was also a volunteer fireman. After devoting 22 years of their lives to the business they sold the resort in 1996 and moved to their lake property on Straight Lake north of Osage where Darrell and Patricia enjoyed their retirement years together. Darrell was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish and camp. He enjoyed competitive trap shooting for many years and had managed the Coors Gun Club in Golden, CO for a time. He had enjoyed racing go-carts, snowmobiles and working on cars through out his life time. He also enjoyed woodworking and riding dirt bikes. Darrell was a master story teller who skillfully kept his listeners on the edge of their seats waiting to hear the rest of the story. Above all, Darrell treasured the time he spent with his wife and family who he loved with all his heart. He will be lovingly remembered by his precious wife and soulmate, Patricia of Osage; his three daughters: Pamela (Nick) Carter of Pleasantville, Iowa, Lorrie (Rick) Collins of Kansas City, MO and Kari Lynn (Bert) Arnlund of Big Fork, MT; five dearly loved grandchildren: Elijah (Stephanie) Arnlund, Shawn (Gayle) Essex, Ricky (Michelle) Collins, Kenna (Dave) Warren and Ryan Collins; 6 precious great grandchildren; his mother, Dorothy Rose of Urbandale, Iowa and his step-mother, Oma Crabb of Osceola, Iowa; his sister, Delores (Vern) Hicklin of Scottsdale, AZ and his brother, Stan (Pat) Crabb of Omaha, NB; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father Harold Crabb (1994) and his son, Harold Wayne Crabb II, who tragically died in a mining accident in1979. Memorial services are planned for 2 PM Saturday, March 15, 2014 at the Faithbridge Church in Park Rapids with the Reverend Ken Polley officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. A light lunch will be hosted by the church following the service.