Darrell Edward Farwick

On October 11, 2018, Darrell Edward Farwick left his earthly home to join both his Lord and Savior and his beloved wife, Dorothy, in Heaven. He passed just two weeks after Dorothy, his sweetheart of nearly 67 years. And though his children Brent, Kenneth (Susan), Kathy (David), and Patricia (Marty) are happy that that Dad now lives in Heaven with Mom, there is an enduring ache in their hearts. The same can be said for his seven grandchildren: Gregory, Garrett (Jessica) and Steven Mlakar, Casey (Taylor) and Kobbe Farwick, and Kimberly and Kara Coronado. Great-grandson Zachary Mlakar and great-granddaughter Peyton Farwick brought special joy to the last two years of Darrell's life. Darrell's sister Delores "Rusty" Purper also survives him, and they were absolute soulmates until the end.

Darrell was born on the 4th of July, 1930, in the small Minnesota town of Pipestone. His father, Bernard Robert Farwick, "Ben," was a carpenter and his mother, Ruth Ellen (nee Kaufman) was a school teacher. The family was rounded out by Darrell's two younger siblings -- twins Delores June Purper, "Rusty," and Charles Joseph Farwick, affectionately known as "Bub" or "Bubby." The family would soon experience difficult times that would both try and ultimately change them.

When Darrell was ten, and his brother and sister were eight, they lost their mother to cancer. Not long after, in 1941, Darrell's father moved the family to Santa Maria, California, after a friend offered him a job in construction. California promptly captured young Darrell's heart and imagination. Warm weather, abundant sunshine, sea breezes from the nearby Pacific, and an abundance of oranges seemed too good to be true to a boy accustomed to Minnesota's frigid winters.

The dream life in California soon came to an end. An auto accident would injure Darrell's father and claim the life of little "Bub." The wounded family made its way back to Pipestone and the support of relatives. In a less than a year and a half, the family of five had lost 40% of its members. Those losses and the many moves the children would make as Ben worked to support them would forever leave their imprint on Darrell and Delores. Family was not a thing to be taken for granted, and Darrell and Delores would, for the rest of their life, value family above nearly everything else.

Darrell was supporting himself by the age of 16. He worked a variety of jobs including a stint on a railroad track gang with his dear friend Howard Jensen, as well as a number of farm jobs. It was in 1948 while working as a hired hand for a Tyler, MN, farmer that Darrell would meet his future wife. Seventeen-year-old Dorothy MacRunnel was helping that farmer's wife, Helen Guida, with household chores and cooking while Helen nursed her newborn. The slender young girl with dark hair and brown eyes quickly became the focus of Darrell's attention. Darrell did enjoy a competitive advantage in that Dorothy not only cooked at least two meals for him every day; she also sat across the dinner table from him. Eighteen-year-old Darrell did not squander that advantage. It was around this time, partly due to Dorothy's example, that Darrell gave his life to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But Darrell's dreams of California had not died, and twice he traveled to California to work for Kaiser Steel. He was well-liked at Kaiser, but after quitting a second time because he was lonely for Dorothy, he knew that he would have to find different work the next time he returned to California. In the spring of 1951, after his final winter's work at Kaiser, Darrell returned to Tyler and the sweet company of Dorothy. On October 10th of 1951, they exchanged vows at the C&MA Church in Tyler, MN. That marriage would end just 13 days short of 67 years when Dorothy passed on September 27th, 2018.

The couple left for California in their little Jeepster almost immediately after the wedding. They were armed with faith, hope, love, and a few hundred dollars. Darrell soon found work as a brakeman with the AT&SF Railroad, where he would spend 40-plus happy years as a brakeman and conductor -- the job he'd always dreamed of. He was able to make a few runs on the last few Santa Fe trains powered by steam locomotives -- the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Darrell was a particularly conscientious and capable railroader with a stellar work record.

The young couple's first weeks were spent in a tiny motel in Loma Linda, just about a mile from what would later become their home of 63 years. Their first real home was an apartment at 244½ I Street, across the road from Santa Fe's A-Yard. Their firstborn, Brent would make his appearance about a week before they left for a small, shade-covered home nestled up against the tiny Zanja Creek in Mentone, CA.

A move closer to his job in San Bernardino was soon followed by the arrival of their twins, Kenneth and Katherine. In January of 1955, they moved to their new, and final address just east of San Bernardino. There they welcomed baby Patricia into their family. The large property allowed them to keep a milk cow and some chickens. Eventually, three houses, all built by Darrell, would replace the pasture.

In 1955, Darrell and Dorothy helped found the first Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in San Bernardino. Darrell helped with many phases of the church's construction. The happy, steady couple would attend that church for more than 60 years.

Darrell and Dorothy would raise their four children to respect God and their fellows. Their kids would never experience the hardships Darrell experienced as a young man. Many relatives from both sides of the family would move to California from Minnesota over the years. Darrell made sure his kids knew them all well. The abundance of cousins meant his children had little need for friends outside the family circle and church. Darrell was generous with his time to any child or teenager, family or not.

His irregular hours as a brakeman and conductor meant that Darrell could arrive home at any time. While other kids waited on hot summer days for their dad to get home, Darrell often showed up mid-day and whisked his kids off to the Sylvan Plunge in Redlands. At other times he would take them, one at a time, for a ride on his Harley motorcycle. Now that made a kid feel special -- just Dad and kid gliding down the road on that big, comfy Harley.

Darrell and Dorothy enjoyed a close circle of friends and relatives. Bowling and miniature golf were favorites among those happy, young-married couples. Rook, aka Baptist Bridge, was a favorite when other couples visited their home. The laughter and good-natured kidding that drifted down the hall to their children's rooms during those games remains a memory cherished by their children.

Darrell enjoyed caring for his citrus trees which produced plenty of oranges, grapefruit, and lemons. He also loved woodwork and photography. For many years he kept a darkroom for developing both color and black and white photographs. At times his children complained about all the picture taking. Now they can't imagine not having the thousands of memories Darrell's photography captured. Darrell also loved scale-model live-steam trains -- the type that pull 10 to 30 people at a time. His passion for steam locomotives lives on in his son, Ken, and in Ken's son, Casey. He enjoyed decades-long friendships with many of his fellow Santa Fe railroaders, and for many years, he and Dorothy hosted a monthly coffee and cinnamon rolls get-together for retired rails. In later years, Darrell and Dorothy kept two pet ponies, Bugs and Bella, of whom they were especially fond.

That Darrell lived to 88-years of age is a testament to God's grace. By the age of 16, he had suffered two severe bouts of rheumatic fever that scarred his left-ventricular heart valve. But he went on to live a full life characterized by productive work. We, his children, intensely miss the man our cousin, Tina Moody, once called "the kindest man in the world." To know our father was to know a kind, decent, and Godly man. Goodbye for now, Dad. We love you and miss you.