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Darwin E Westin

03/15/1960 - 12/13/2021

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Obituary For Darwin E Westin

Darwin Westin, of Rapid City, SD was born on March 15, 1960 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Father Edward E Westin and Mother Agnes V Westin.

Darwin had several Childhood friends that became as if they were brothers, Leon Fiest, Clayton Stein, Tony Jurisch, Daniel Morris. They had many adventures together. Darwin attended Rapid City Central High School and graduated in 1978. He worked for CoCa Cola Bottling company out of High School and later moved to Dallas Texas. He worked for a Concrete Company for six months then he worked for an Amusement Park for four years. Darwin held several jobs for 15 years while he was living in Carrollton, Texas. He raised Blue Merle Collies for several years, falling in love with the breed. The last six years he was employed at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He was reunited with his childhood friend Monica Jurisch in 2001 They began a telephone courtship, he in Texas and she in Nebraska . They decided to move to Box Elder, South Dakota where they were married on April 15, 2002. At their home in Box Elder ,South Dakota. On that day they planted a Rocky Mountain Blue Spruce tree that flourished throughout their marriage of twelve years becoming nearly twenty feet tall. The tree still flourishes. Monica was tragically killed in a Auto Train collision in September of 2014.Darwin was devastated. Monica remained the love of his life until his death.

Darwin was a Man that was happy, loving life and marveling at the world. Music was a very large part of his life. He was a big fan of the” Beatles” As was Sports. His favorite team were the Broncos. Whenever they would score or win a game he would pump his arm in victory. He always stayed up on the local news and current events.

Through all of this Jesus remained the center of his life since he was a child. One of his childhood dreams was to become a priest. Darwin was always generous with his time and resources. He never turned down a friend that was in need. He always said he was here to serve. Family was the single most important thing to him.

Darwin was a simple man with a subtle sense of humor, always pointing out the obvious, telling Tony how he should have done something after the fact when helping his Brother in-law on several projects. Always a source of laughter. His laugh was very infectious. As was his bright shining smile Darwin was a man that never met a stranger. He maintained relationships with his childhood friends his entire life. Darwin Worked at Rapid City Regional Hospital for fifteen years in the linen department. Making friends with all the departments he delivered throughout the Hospital. He also worked for Black Hills Surgical Hospital in janitorial services for three years, briefly at Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Housekeeping and then with Little Fuse as an electronics assembler until he was taken ill with Brain Cancer. Darwin fought a brave fight for nearly two years. After his surgery he was given less than six months to live. Darwin amazed his doctors and nurses at his positive attitude through the terrible suffering. Always greeting them and smiling, having something funny to say.Darwin never once complained about his illness, always with a “Hi\'\' and a smile to greet his visitors. If you asked him how he was doing he always came back with “Not too Bad. How are you doing “? While he was in pain. Always studying the bible with his phone on the internet while lying in his Hospital bed at Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City. Darwin and I would spend hours together talking and studying the scripture. He was always interested in learning new things. With the help of a mutual friend, Doug Hodder whom we lost to cancer November 23rd we would read to Darwin everyday for a couple of hours each from different books. The brain surgery left it difficult for Darwin to focus well in order to read. He would participate in Bible Study Every Sunday on the phone With His in-laws and his brother Thomas. Darwin Had a miniature Chihuahua ‘Bailey’ that he dearly loved. When he was taken to Hospice House February 23, 2021, Darwin’s cousins Mike and Dalene Olson and their two girls Mikayla 9 years and Angela 6 years graciously accepted the responsibility of taking care of and loving Bailey. Often they would bring Bailey for visits to allow Darwin time with him. Dalene would send pictures of the girls and Bailey regularly, brightening Darwin\'s day. Darwin appreciated those girls for loving Bailey which has become Bailey’s forever home. On December 5th Darwin told me “I’m excited to see Jesus”

Darwin courageously fought until December 13, 2021 at Hospice House where he became a favorite of the nursing staff and Doctors. There is so much more that can be told about this wonderful man. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know him will always be better persons because of this. One more thing I can say about my brother is ‘He Was The Wind Beneath my Wings’.

Darwin is Survived by Two Brothers Daniel Westin 70 of Rapid City, South Dakota andThomas Westin 67 of Rapid City, South Dakota; Uncle Edward Warn of Custer, South Dakota; Aunt Jackie Warn of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Cousins: Aleta Olson of Rapid Valley, South Dakota, Dick Sicterman of Rapid City, Donald Sickterman, Clayton (Joan) Stein of Rapid Valley, South Dakota, Venus Freeman of Rapid City, Jody Ward, Stacy Wilson, Kennth Berger of Belgrade, Montana; Sister Ellen Therese of Portland, Oregon, Faith Warn of Custer, South Dakota, Hope Warn, Tracy Grose of Virginia, Dawn Feldt of Virginia, Pawnee Matthews of Virginia, Jeffery Warn of Virginia Beach Virginia and many more too numerous to mention.

Services are to be held at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 10:00am with Tony Jurisch Officiating.

The family has requested no flowers. If you would like to make a memorial donation in Darwin’s memory, please do so at St. Judes Cancer Research. http//.stjude.org

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