Dru Larson Rocco Stewart

BIG TIMBER - On the morning of July 21, 2007, our wonderful giant of a son went to heaven to be with our Gracious Lord and his cherished grandmother, brother and family. We know they were waiting for him with joy in their heart and tears in their eyes.
Dru was born on a beautiful Thursday morning on May 16, 1983, to his parents Don and Patti Stewart, and his big sister Meggin. His grandparents, George and Dolores Ames, and Aunt Betsi, were all there to greet him when he finally decided to make his entrance. His daddy was out of town, but hurried home to see our little man.
Dru was such a different child from his first day on earth to his final day. No one could fill a room with more love and laughter than Dru and Meggin.
Druzie was a giant of a person in body, life and spirit. Everyone is talking about how he gave the biggest hugs and would always shake your hand and talk to you, no matter how far he had to go out of his way to do so.
Dru loved his family and his friends with all of his being. You definitely knew that you were loved by Dru.
Druzie was a big kid who did everything. Two days before he left us, he said, "Mom, isn't it amazing how big I am and I am still good at every sport there is?" And he was. He played soccer, baseball, football and golf at Sweet Grass County High School. He then got recruited to play football at Rocky Mountain College, where he played until he tore his knee out for the fourth time. At that time, he transferred to Sheridan Community College to study criminal justice. He loved law enforcement and was a member of the Sweet Grass County Sheriff's Reserves. He wanted to be a cop like his grandpa, uncles and cousin. While in Sheridan, he met Jason and Stephanie Vela and instantly fell in love with their three boys. In the fall of 2006, Dru became employed at East Boulder mine in Big Timber and there he said that he found the job he loved, because, as he said, "It's a place where we are all brothers and sisters and I love everybody I work with."
Dru loved the Yankees more than anything else. The Yankees have lost their greatest fan. He also loved the Broncos and the New York Giants. He also loved golfing and had his head busted open from a wayward tee off.
Dru's greatest loves were his parents; his big sister, Megg, brother Corey and sister Kelly; his grandpa and grandma and all of his aunts, uncles and cousins; his young friends, Taesan, Sojin, Charlie and Jakie. Meggin and Dru were as close as anyone could be. They shared a sense of humor, a certain look and secrets that no one will ever know.
His second love was his girlfriend Mindy and her daughter Raigen. His friends Leif, Danny, Josh, Tony, Corey, Justin, Jeremy and Amber, Connor, Al, Drew, Mike, Jim, JV, Brian, Alan, Bonnie, Chris, Ali, Jenny, Jen, Taren, Chris, Lena, Lindsay, Tami, Kelly and everyone else that I can't think of right at this moment were the joys of his life.
Dru is preceded in death by his brother, Georgie; his very precious grandmother, Dolores Ames; his grandparents, Elmer and Lorainne Stewart.
He is survived by his mother and father, Don and Patti Stewart; his big sister, Meggin and her boyfriend Chris Birkle; his grandfather and step-grandmother George and Clara Ames; and multitudes of aunts and uncles and cousins, Steve and Cheryl Stewary, George Kinley, Stub Ames and his children, Holly and Jeremy of Columbus, Danny and Betty Ames and their children, Traci and Anthony Piltz and their son, Jonah, Kelli and Brad Smith, Becki and Josh Risser and Tommy Ames, Uncle Mikie Ames and his children, Andy, Danny, Charley, Katy, Rory, Ashley, and Danielle; his Aunt Gaye and Uncle Wayne, his Aunt Nancy O'Keefe, Mark and Bonnie Josephson and their children Sojin and Taesan, Lance and Julie Lovell and their children Jake and Charlie; Karen and Bill Glasser and Jean Chapel and their children; Troy and Tabitha Chapel and their children Dillon and Hunter; Trent and Cari Chapel and Tami Chapel and her boyfriend Ryan Donovan, Patti Smith and daughter Andrea, cousins Mike and Cyd Rodriguez, Lisa Westervelt, Tailer and Shelbi Rodriguez, Gramma Doris and Svend Mauland; Uncle Albert Orzel, Betty Orzel and Cas Orzel, all of New York; his godmother, Helen Barber of Big Timber; his girlfriend, Mindy Mendenhall and daughter Raigan; and all of his gazillions of friends. He touched all who knew him and made this world that much better.
Dru was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, a faith he loved because of his Gramma Dolores.
A prayer vigil will be held on Thursday, July 26, at 8 p.m., at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Big Timber, where we will all share loving memories of Druzie. Following that, there will be a Polish wake at the Timber Bar to celebrate Dru's life. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, July 27, at 11 a.m., at the Big Timber Lutheran Church, with Father Dale officiating. Interment will be at Mountainview Cemetery, where he will be buried next to his brother and grandparents. A luncheon will follow, served by the St. Joseph's Catholic Church women and Big Timber Evangelical Church women. We ask that everyone dress in anything casual because Dru hated dressing up.
Dru, you are my heart, my love, my very breath. I do not know how any of us will make it without you, but I promise that we will all work hard to carry your love of life, kindness, generosity and sense of humor forward. Give us time, as time is what it will take. Continue to watch out for your sister, as she needs you now more than ever. You are her heart. I will be okay, but I will cry, for I miss you in every corner of my being. Hug Georgie and kiss Gramma for all of us and cheer on those Yankees. We are all going to go to Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees slay the Red Socks for you. We will get there before they tear down the house that Babe built, and will save a seat for you. I will love you forever and see you someday. Wait for me. I love you, Mom
Instead of flowers and because of Dru's love of children, we ask you make donations to Big Timbers CORA/Children's Recreational Association, PO Box 627, Big Timber, MT 59011.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.