Thomas Nicholas Darko Sr. was born November 2, 1948 and passed away on October 2, 2024 into his Heavenly Father’s rest. Known to many as “Tom” and “Uncle Tom,” he was born in Great Falls, Montana and was raised in Belt, Montana. Belt held a very special place in his heart and he forever referred to it as his only home.
Tom was the youngest son of Alex and Mary (Smerek) Darko. Tom shared many stories about growing up in Belt with his siblings: Helen (Marlin) Johnson, Barbara (Lloyd) Byrd, Catherine Parker-Bean, Frank (Nobuko) Darko, Margaret Rooney, and Marie Darko. Tom loved animals and had a special bond with dogs, especially his treasured “Racoon Dog.” Tom loved everyone and appreciated everything anyone did for him. He was a genuine human being who would give you anything he had if you needed it. He always had a humorous attitude and loved to tease people, even if he didn’t know you or he was in pain. Tom lived his life just the way he wanted.
Tom attended Belt Valley High School and graduated in 1967. When Tom was old enough to go to school, he would cry everyday so his mom and dad decided to let him stay home one more year. When he returned to school the following year, he prided himself with not missing a day of school through the 8th grade! In high school, Tom loved track and field and told many stories about throwing the Javelin and breaking a record. He was also very talented at mechanical drawing. He often mentioned that he had an opportunity to further his education and become an architect, but didn’t want to leave home and always said, “I just finished school, why would I want to do to more?”. Tom also enjoyed his hobbies. He loved to cut firewood, race stockcars, join bowling leagues, play the poker machine at the East Side Bar in Belt, and go fishing and hunting. Tom would cut up to 80 cords of wood in any given summer. He always commented on the smell of the pine and what nice white wood he was cutting. As Tom grew older, he would help his great nephew, Jeremy Johnson, cut wood in the mountains and saw wood for customers at his brother-in-law’s house, Marlin Johnson. When stockcar racing, he always sang the song, “Lucille” by Kenny Rogers, but changed the words to “You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel.” If Tom’s stockcar would break down, he would pull an engine out another car and put it into his stockcar so he would not miss a race-working well into the wee hours of the night.
Tom was always a very hard-working man. Tom worked at the Anaconda Company after high school. He was also an avid mechanic and worked at Bob and Oley’s Conoco in Great Falls. Later he worked for the Farmer’s Union in Belt and then transferred to the Black Eagle Farmer’s Union in Great Falls working in the Tire Shop. He was always traveling to farms around the area to fix tractor tires. He wasn’t big in stature, but he could change a tractor tire faster than anyone else and took great pride in his work.
After graduating high school, Tom married Janet Smith and had three children: Connie Darko (Robert Kovack), Thomas Jr. (AJ Jeannine) Darko, Patrick (Geri Lynn) Darko. After Tom and Janet divorced, he raised his first three children in Belt while taking care of his father, Alex. Later in life, he married Catherine Green and had a daughter, Loni (Joshua) Smith. Tom had 11 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and many special nieces and nephews-especially Ruth Sandborn who would always check on Tom and visit with him.
Tom was preceded in death by his dad and mom, Alex and Mary Darko; brother Frank Darko; sisters Helen Johnson, Barb Byrd, Margaret Rooney, Marie Darko, and granddaughter Shelby Kovack.
Tom is survived by his sister, Catherine Parker-Bean; daughters Connie Darko and Loni Smith; sons Patrick Darko and Thomas Darko Jr.; grandchildren (Connie) David Green (Samantha Cartwright), Katelyn (Tyler) Harvie; (Patrick) Kaci Darko and Karson Darko; (Loni) Colten Wingness, Liliauna Floyd, Remington Smith, Harper Smith, Carver Smith, Sam Smith; great grandchildren Kimber Green, Wyatt Green, and Ricky Harvie, and many nieces and nephews who dearly loved “Uncle Tom”.
The world lost a beautiful soul on October 2nd and at Tom’s request, there will be no service. We will have a get together at a later date at the East Side Bar in Belt, where Tom stopped on his daily journey. The family wishes to thank the team of doctors and nursing staff at Benefis Healthcare for their compassion and expertise during Tom’s stay. We also want to thank Marlin and Ruth for always checking on dad, visiting with him, and helping him with whatever he needed. We are truly thankful and eternally grateful for your help and love for Dad. May Dad rest in peace.
Author: Staff
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