Vasco Reynaldo Bachini, 99

Vasco Reynaldo Bachini, 99, of Havre, died of natural causes Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, at Northern Montana Care Center.

Cremation has taken place and a private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hollandbonine.com. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

 Vasco was born June 22, 1913, the second child of Florindo and Julia (Ferri) Bachini, and was raised in Havre. Vasco married Albertina Guerra on Jan. 4, 1933, and their union was blessed with their son Bob. Albertina and baby Mary Louise died July 17, 1938. Vasco met Anastasia “Anne” Rehbein while she was attending Northern Montana College. They married July 15, 1941, and welcomed son Dick and daughter Teri. Vasco and Anne were married for 69 years before her passing in 2011.

 Vasco worked as a boilermaker/welder for the Great Northern railroad, a projectionist at the Havre Theater and drive-in, an electrician for Havre Electric, an electrician and electrical inspector for the city of Havre, and became a state electrical inspector. He retired in 1978.

 While working for the railroad, he invented the boiler flue tip for steam locomotives, which saved the railroad millions of dollars. He was also instrumental in the development of lower Beaver Creek Lake.

 Some of Vasco’s many hobbies were fishing, hunting, gardening and photography. He liked to develop and print his own pictures and those of family and friends. He grew the most delicious tomatoes! We would ask if he really needed 100 tomato plants and he would reply, “I have to have enough to give away.” He loved cars and bought his last new car at the age of 97.

 Vasco told very funny stories from his own experiences and many of them had a moral ... like  “Never get a badger drunk” and “Never pee on a hot-wired radiator.”  We girls will miss his blowing kisses and little pecks on the cheek.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Florindo and Julia Bachini; his second wife, Anastasia; his first wife, Albertina; his baby daughter, Mary Louise Bachini; his brother, Oscar, and sister-in-law, Elia Bachini; his nephews, John and Frank Bachini; and his nieces, Marian Bachini, Rosie D’Hooge, Mary Guza and Irene Hanning.

Vasco is survived by his sons, Bob and Shirley Bachini of Helena, and Dick Bachini of Havre; his daughter, Teri, and Sam Bussey, of Kalispell; his grandchildren, Linda and Rob Crofts of Helena, and Trina and Pat Stivers and Sam Bussey III, all of Kalispell; nine great-grandchildren; and several great-nieces and nephews.