Louis R. 'Louie' Bertino, 96

Louis R. "Louie" Bertino, 96, passed away at the Evergreen Long Term Care Facility at Polson, on Aug. 20, 2006.

Louie Bertino was born at St. David, Ill., on Oct. 24, 1909, to Giovanna Ruffatto Bertino and Frank Bertino. The family moved to Brockton, in 1911, where they homesteaded south of the Missouri River. Then in 1918, they purchased and farmed on land north of the river.

Prior to his passing, Louie was the last survivor of the Bertino homesteaders. He married Clarice R. Workman in October 1935, at Kenmare, N.D. Louie, Clarice and the family moved to Columbia Falls, in 1949. Clarice passed away in May, 1969.

Louie had a long career as a welder and ironworker and worked on projects such as Shasta Dam, Fort Peck Dam, Mare Island Navy Yard, Hungry Horse Dam, Noxon Dam and Libby Dam. During World War II, he spent a year with the Corps of Engineers at Adak, Alaska, and was awarded the Overseas service ribbon on March 26, 1945.

He was a lifetime member of the NRA and he had a special fondness for Winchester and Weatherby rifles and Colt handguns. He enjoyed telling stories of his early life on the farm in eastern Montana and his experiences as a construction worker.

Louie Bertino married Mary Schoenberg of Columbia Falls, in November 1972. Louie and Mary then moved to Sumner, Wash., where he continued his work as a welder and ironworker until his retirement in 1982, then he and Mary moved back to Columbia Falls and made their home there.

He was a member of St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls.

Mary passed away in December 2004.

Louie was preceded in death by one son, Clarence, of Salt Lake City; four brothers and six sisters.

Survivors include one daughter, Louise Allen of Spokane; three sons, William Bertino and wife, Marilyn of Colorado Springs, Colo., Tom Bertino and wife, Ellen, of Springfield, Va., and Philip Bertino of Kalispell; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Louie Bertino will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, at St. Richard's Catholic Church, Columbia Falls.

Columbia Mortuary will be coordinating the service.