Daryl Allyn Dilly, 74, passed away November 26, 2017 at home in Helena, Montana. Daryl was born to Myrel and Margaret Dilly on July 1, 1943 in Opportunity, Washington. He was the youngest of four children. The family settled in St. Regis, Montana until his father’s passing. In 1951 his mother packed up the family and moved to Missoula until 1956 then Helena to be closer to family. He attended Elementary School in St. Regis and Missoula, Broadwater County High School and Helena Senior High School. Daryl enlisted in the United States Navy in 1960. He was certified as a hospital corpsman and operating room technician and served in the Navy until his honorable discharge in 1966. During the Cuban Campaign in 1962, Daryl was one of 10 enlisted men and three doctors deployed as a mobile surgical unit from San Francisco to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. They were issued Marine uniforms and boarded a ship at Portsmouth, Virginia in route to Cuba. Their ship remained in the Atlantic Ocean until Russia agreed to remove their missiles from Cuba. During his service, Daryl also had the honor of attending to Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz following extensive surgery in his home on Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay.
Daryl heard Montana calling and moved back to Helena to work as a surgical technician at St. John’s Hospital and attend Carroll College. In 1970 he became a certified Inhalation Therapist, the first in Montana. Daryl held the position as Department Head for Respiratory Services at various hospitals in Helena and Seattle. He was an instructor and director for the Respiratory Therapy program at the Helena Vocational Technical Center, was self employed for several years as a general building contractor, and managed the Cardio-Respiratory Services department at St. Peter’s Hospital. In 1989, Daryl became a co-founder and owner of Apex Home Medical Systems. He successfully operated the company for 10 years until his retirement.
Daryl married Julia Brighton in 1990 at their cabin in the Garnet Mountain Range, a union they shared for 23 years. Together, and with his son Russ, stepdaughter Marissa and stepson Adam, they enjoyed both the cabin and their country home designed and built by Daryl to enjoy the views of the Elkhorn Mountains, raise Pekin ducks and gourmet garlic. They traveled to Flagstaff, Arizona often to spend time with Russ at his home, and vacationed in Hawaii. Daryl enjoyed a lifetime passion in carpentry and built a number of houses in the Helena area. He had many interests including hunting and reloading equipment and specialty rifles for target shooting. He was a talented guitarist playing in a band and around the campfire at the cabin with friends, children and family singing along. Winter was his favorite time of year at the cabin cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, card-playing and story-telling with all those gathered around the glow of oil lamps and wood stove. He was an avid reader of wartime history, water navigation and sailing. He golfed, rafted the whitewater, and fished for the rainbow.
Daryl is survived by his brother, Donald Dilly, Beaumont, California, step-daughter, Marissa (Trent) Vogl Barthelmas, Charleston, South Carolina, grandchildren Taj, Josie and Michael Barthelmas, Charleston, South Carolina, numerous nephews and nieces, his Brighton family and many loving family members and close friends. He was greeted in heaven by his parents, brother, Charles Dilly, sister, Mavis Arbour, son, Russell Dilly, and stepson, Adam Vogl.
Daryl adopted several animals from the Lewis and Clark Humane Society which brought him great joy. Memorials may be made to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society. The family would like to thank the Montana VA, A Plus Health Care providers, Gail White, Tom Hamilton and Bill Vanderhoff for their wonderful care and friendship they provided to Daryl.
A graveside service with military honors will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 12th at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. A reception will follow at the Fort Harrison Service Club. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Daryl.
Marissa says
Daryl you will for eternity hold a special place in my heart. You were a wonderful father to me and taught me so much about life. I had a fabulous and unique childhood. The stories I can tell from our cabin experiences are memories out of a fairy tale. I hope to give my kids a chance to experience half of the things we did together. I pray you are fishing in the heavens with all of our loved ones passed. I miss you so very much and love you!
Mary Runkel says
We go way back to the days when you were a respiratory therapist, and then the provider of durable medical equipment- you were always ready to help a patient any way you could to make their days easier. Rest well.
Ed McKnight, Sparky, USN says
I remember his days as an RT. He was also a Navy Corpsman at the Yerba Buena Island Naval Hospital where he was one of a few charged with providing care to the aged, WW2 Pacific Theater hero, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. Having the Navy in common, he told me about the time he was helping the Admiral to the Head and accidental lost his grip and dropped him on the floor. He said he thought, “Oh my God, I’ve just killed the man who won the war in the Pacific!” He didn’t. Daryl had lots of stories, that was probably his best. Rest In Peace Sailor.
jerry wambaugh says
Daryl helped me get started in my career as a Respiratory Therapist. We worked together at St. John’s Hospital in Helena, Montana in the early 70’s. That career lasted 41 years and it wouldn’t have been possible without Daryl’s ability to teach and share. I will miss him very much. Good Friend, Great Boss and Good Man.
Carol Ogle says
I worked with Daryl at St Johns Hospital about 10 years. I also worked with Julia at the Office of Public Instruction for some 15+ years. While Daryl didn’t build our house (on Spokane Creek Rd ), he added a significant 2nd story addition to it. Condolences to you and your family. Carol Ogle.
Tom Kilmer says
Daryl hired me in the Respiratory Therapy Department at St. Peters Hospital. I started work the day after finishing RT school. Daryl was a good boss and a fair man. He was my boss till he left to start Apex. I remember when he called me into his office. I thought “oh oh, I’m in trouble” But he just felt it best to tell each of his employees one on one that he was leaving.
Bill Hines says
Julia and Family,
Just heard this morning about Daryl and sorry this is so late. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. For many many years Daryl was a member of our family. He was a brother to me. My son is named after Daryl and my bother. His name is Floyd Allyn Hines. To all my children he was Uncle Daryl. I deeply regret that I did not stay in closer contact with him in our later years. I do not have your address to write so I hope you receive this and if you would let us know when the service will be we would appreciate it. We currently live in Arkansas so don’t know if we can make it to the service but we will certainly try to.
Adeline V. says
To the Family and friends of Daryl A. Dilly, sincere condolences. I often write to those who have lost their dear loved ones, knowing the pain and sorrow that it brings to all. What a lovely man, the love and care he had for others. We have a wonderful hope, the hope of seeing our loved ones restored to life. God is a Fulfiller of promises: John 5:28,29 and Acts 24:15 I pray that these words will bring you comfort and hope.
Sincerely, Adeline V.
jw.org
Greg and Sue Wehr says
Dear Friends, We have many fond memories of our times shared at the cabin. Hopefully you are now in a more peaceful place, maybe running through a field of garlic ! Much love to all of the family. Love as always,The Wehr Family