Bill Darrow

Bill Dean Darrow

October 26, 1928 – September 20, 2025

Billie (Bill) Dean Darrow, 96, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20, 2025.

Bill was born on October 26, 1928, in Junction City, Kansas, to Glen Hiram and Olive Goldie Michael Darrow. He married Joyce Louisa Nicholas on April 10, 1953, in Tremonton, Utah. Through Joyce's loving missionary efforts, Bill joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on November 15, 1954. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Logan Utah Temple on July 18, 1961. After Joyce passed away in 2007, Bill married JoAnn Larsen on July 3, 2009.

A graduate of Abilene High School in Kansas, Bill served honorably in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS Helena. During a leave visit to Kansas, he met Joyce on a train-a chance encounter that blossomed into a deep love nurtured by frequent letters and lasting commitment.

Bill worked primarily in drywall, with his career taking him from Nebraska to Chicago and eventually to Salt Lake City. While raising their five children in Waukegan, Illinois,

Bill came home one day and announced it was time to move west-closer to the mountains and to Joyce's family in Utah.

Bill also served faithfully as a temple worker for 10 years in the Jordan River Temple. He served in multiple Bishoprics and as a Scoutmaster.

A true jack of all trades, Bill could build, fix, or create just about anything he set his mind to. His many hobbies included golf, leatherworking, woodworking, painting, yard work, gardening, and especially tending to his beloved roses. To know Bill was to know kindness. He was a gentle man who loved to observe and connect with people-everyone he met was a friend.

Bill is survived by his wife, JoAnn; children Debra (David) Steffgen, Lori (Jim) Barnhurst, Craig (Stephanie) Darrow, Kevin (Molly) Darrow, and Jana (Randy) Ewing; 20 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and his brother Larry (Jean) Darrow of Salina, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce, his parents, a baby boy Darrow, and grandson Wilson Ewing.

The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Sagewood – Mountain View Memory Care and Valeo Home Health and Hospice for the love and care shown to Dad this past year.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley Chapel, 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy., South Jordan, Utah-from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. for family and 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. for friends and family. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Interment will take place afterward at Valley View Memorial, West Valley City.