Live Like Jace

“Live Fully, Love Deeply, Adventure Always”

Billings, Montana

Written by Cyd Hoefle

Photography Contributed by the VavRosky Family and Estaleda Webb

Fall Issue - 2026

On a cool fall morning, Jace VavRosky and his father, Darrell quietly stocked a big, bull elk. Dressed in camouflage, the two men blended into the Montana landscape. Jace had his eye on the prize bull and, when they spotted him, he made certain he was completely prepared before shooting his arrow.  

“It was actually my turn,” Darrell said, “but I wasn’t sure Jace would get back out if he didn’t shoot one on that day.” 

Jace had been diagnosed with melanoma and with his surgery scheduled to remove the spot, he was afraid he’d miss hunting season.  

Jace took the shot and Darrell captured it on video. “Are you kidding me man?” Jace is heard saying. “Dad, I just killed a giant!” 

That hunt would end up being one of Jace’s last. Though he was given a clean bill of health after his surgery, ten months later the melanoma was back and this time, he succumbed to cancer in just six short weeks.  

“That trip is one of my top memories,” Darrell reflected somberly.  

Darrell and his wife, Kristi, are still reeling from the loss of their only son in February of 2024. At 28 years of age, active and strong, the young man was in the prime of his life. A graduate of Rocky Mountain College, Jace chose to attend school in Montana instead of his home state of Washington because he saw so many opportunities to recreate.    

“Jace loved everything about the outdoors,” Kristi said. “We recreated as a family and that shaped who he became.” 

“Outdoor enthusiast” doesn’t adequately describe Jace, his love for nature was a passion.  Every season came with a reason to recreate. Winter brought snowmobiling and snowboarding. Spring was filled with fishing, boating, baseball and golf. And then there was hunting - big game, duck, upland bird. Jace just loved to hunt.  

“Hunting has run in both Darrell’s and my family for years,” Kristi, who was raised in eastern Montana, said. “Our fathers taught us to hunt, so it was natural for us to pass it on to Jace.”  

“At around 10 years old, he passed the hunter’s safety course,” Darrell said. “He started hunting with a BB gun, shooting squirrels on my dad’s place. Then Dad gave him a 22 and he hunted with it until he got his first hunting rifle, a 270. There was no looking back.” 

JACE AND HIS PARENTS, KRISTI AND DARRELL VAVROSKY

Always a responsible hunter, Jace followed rules completely. Under the tutelage of his father and grandfather, he learned to properly dress his kill and prepare it for the table. As his Grampa Pete would say, “You can’t shoot anything unless you eat it.” 

With two working parents, Jace spent most of his childhood exploring his paternal grandparents’ 25-acre property in Washington. He learned to drive a four-wheeler before his feet could reach the pedals and often accompanied his grandfather and his friends into town for coffee.  

“We said yes to Jace often if it was an opportunity for adventure,” Kristi said. “So, he was exposed to everything, hunting, fishing, golfing, baseball, boating, snowmobiling and snowboarding.” 

After his death, Jace’s parents and a few close friends started a foundation in his memory called “Live Like Jace.” The intention is to commemorate his life and legacy while nurturing and strengthening family bonds. The foundation provides outdoor experiences for individuals and families facing tough times or a cancer diagnosis.   

“We want people to hopefully live like him,” Kristi explained. “To say yes often, to get out and enjoy the outdoors.” 

Just in its infancy, “Live Like Jace” has already impacted several families. A teenage girl received a hunting rifle and a young man a mountain bike. These gifts allowed both to continue pursuing the outdoor activities they love. Others have been gifted family trips to briefly step away from their medical journeys and focus on family bonding and making memories together. A youth group benefited when the foundation purchased their shirts for a national shooting competition. 

This last February, eight-year-old Matty Webb was diagnosed a second time with leukemia and spent much of the spring and summer undergoing chemo and steroid treatment. “Live Like Jace” stepped in and gifted Matty, his mother and grandmother season tickets to the Billings Mustang baseball games. 

“Knowing how difficult the summer would be, we’re so grateful to have had the distraction and entertainment of the baseball games,” Estaleda Webb, Matty’s mother said. “It’s been great for him.” 

Matty was all smiles on the evening the Mustang team members signed his bald head and baseball cap. An avid baseball fan, he attended as many home games as his health allowed. 

MATTY WEBB WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF HIS BELOVED BILLINGS MUSTANG’S TEAM

“Matty’s been in and out of hospitals since he was three years old,” his mom continued. “ ‘Live Like Jace’ not only gave us something to look forward to, but it was also something that we didn’t have in the budget to do ourselves.” 

As word spreads about the mission of “Live Like Jace,” the VavRosky’s desire is that applicants will have an opportunity to enjoy recreating with family and friends the way Jace did. 

“He was our son, but also our best friend,” Kristi continued. “We had a great family relationship. If we can help other families to have a bit of that, that’s what we want to do.” 

Currently, the foundation operates entirely through volunteers and donations. An annual golf tournament wrapped up at the Briarwood Golf Course in Billings in August with the proceeds earmarked for families in need.  

“We don’t want people to forget Jace,” Kristi added. “Living like he did means to forge on and enjoy life as best they can.” 

To help spread the word and the good works of “Live Like Jace,” to fill out an application, or donate, visit their website, livelikejace.com or Facebook page: Live Like Jace.