Vito 'Victor' Valentino Rinella, 85

Vito "Victor" Valentino Rinella, 85, passed away at his home April 13, 2008, due to COPD.

He was born Nov. 11, 1922, in Sacramento, Calif., and was raised in Sacramento.

Vic served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946 as a fighter plane mechanic. While in the Navy, he began working as a government GSA inspector, a career from which he retired Oct. 3, 1974.

On May 22, 1954, he married Alice Edna Williams in Reno, Nev.

Vic loved to bowl. At 85, he was still bowling in a league. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. Every year, he and his wife, Alice, would camp in Klamath Falls, Ore., for two months. This brought great joy to their lives.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Alice Rinella; and his parents, Charles and Rose Rinella.

Vic is survived by his son, Gene Ricks, and wife, Barbara, of Kalispell; daughter, Donna VanKeuren, of Oklahoma City; siblings, Donald Rinella and Jessie Dorsey, both of Sacramento; grandchildren, Ken Ricks and wife, Stephanie, of Kalispell, Kevin Ricks and wife, Kathy, of Hughson, Calif., Robert Ricks and wife, Becky, of Omaha, Neb., Kathy Cavier and husband, Don, of Rocklin, Calif., Victor VanKeuren of Maine, Timothy VanKeuren of Sacramento, and Jackie Hanna of Oklahoma City; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 19, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. at the funeral home, with burial immediately after the service, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.