On Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, Jace Allan VavRosky was called home, and Heaven gained a truly inspirational and extraordinary young man. Jace’s brave fight against melanoma came to an end in the comfort of his own home, surrounded by his parents and beloved black labs, Enzo and Cruz. It is with heavy hearts that we announce his passing, but with full hearts that we recognize and celebrate his incredible journey and the life he lived that we were so fortunately graced with here on earth.
Jace was 28 years young, born on Dec. 1, 1995, to Darrell and Kristi VavRosky, in Clackamas, Oregon. He grew up in Battle Ground, Washington, where he spent time on the farm with his Grandpa Pete. He attended Prairie High School and excelled at both golf and baseball. Shortly after graduation, Jace set his mind on college in Montana. Planting his roots in Billings, Jace attended Rocky Mountain College, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in geology with a petroleum systems concentration. Kristi and Darrell were not far behind, as they too relocated to Billings, which, for Jace, was the best of both worlds. Following college graduation, Jace worked in the petroleum industry. In 2021, he accepted a position at Bretz RV, where he worked his way into a managerial position.
At a young age, starting in Washington and quickly expanding to “God’s Country,” as Jace would say, he cultivated a deep love for the outdoors and embraced the wonder of nature, finding joy and excitement in activities such as hunting, fishing, golfing, boating, snowmobiling and snowboarding. Alongside Jace, you could often find his favorite hunting buddy, his dad, who shared his love for hunting and the thrill of punching tags. Jace’s adventurous spirit knew no bounds as he explored the great outdoors, finding peace in the beauty of the wilderness or in a cold Busch Light next to a warm fire with his friends. Jace lived life, and he lived it to the fullest.
Beyond his passion for outdoor pursuits, Jace was known for his remarkable charisma and his gentle, kind soul. Jace had a way with people. Old, young, near or far, he had a rare gift for connecting with others, and his genuine concern and compassion touched the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know him. He lived his life with a deep sense of empathy and loyalty, whether it was offering a word of encouragement, sharing a laugh or just showing up; being a friend of Jace’s was truly a blessing.
He is survived by his parents, Darrell and Kristi VavRosky, of Billings; half-sibling Darcie (Harry) Lindermood, of Battle Ground, Washington, and their children (nephew) Tyson and (niece) Amanda; Uncle Rob (Kelly) Johnson, of Bismarck, North Dakota, and their children (cousin) Brooke (Matt) Settergren of Duluth, Minnesota, (cousin) Hunter (Katie) Johnson, of Bismarck, North Dakota, (cousin) Lauren Johnson of Bozeman, (cousins) Jordan (Jordan) Dahl and Tyler Adolf of Bismarck, North Dakota; Uncle Kyle (Julie) Johnson, of Glendive, and their children (cousin) Jess (Mandy) Johnson of Glendive, (cousin) Kyla (Will) Martin of Peoria, Arizona, and (cousin) Jordan and her fiancé Ryan Summers, of Louisville, Kentucky.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Pete Nosko and Georgia VavRosky, and maternal grandparents, Larry and Sharon Johnson.
A viewing will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave., Billings, Montana, 59102. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at First Presbyterian Church, 2420 13th St. West, Billings, Montana, 59102. These are open to family, friends and all whose paths he crossed.
A celebration of life will follow, where we invite friends to join our family in honoring his memory and sharing stories of his remarkable life.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Live Like Jace” Foundation, which will soon be established. May we cherish our memories and carry on his legacy of living life fully and filled with laughter, compassion and adventure.
As we imagine Jace would say now, as he had said before, “It was a heck of a journey. There were no bad days had.”
