William Bertino

Lt. Col. William Louis "Popo" Bertino, U.S. Air Force retired, 73, of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully at Hospice of Arizona. Surrounded by his family, he died in his wife's arms on Oct. 23, 2011.

William was born in Culbertson on March 17, 1938, to Italian immigrant parents.

He met his wife Marilyn Sheppard in October 1959 and married his "one true love" on Oct. 15, 1961.

A navigator in the Air Force and a veteran of the Vietnam War, William served for 22 years. He was an engineer and worked as a defense contractor for 15 years at TRW in Colorado Springs.

His hobbies were to tinker around with vintage cars and trucks. He lovingly maintained and restored his vintage racing Alfa Romeo. He always had a passion for the mountains of Montana and Colorado, where he would hike and fish.

William was preceded in death by his parents Louis and Clarice Bertino and brother Clarence Bertino.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marilyn; son Bryant; grandchildren Nadia and Louis Bertino whom he loved dearly; three nieces; two nephews; two great nieces; and one great nephew.

Services were held at Hansen Desert Hills Memorial Park, in Scottsdale on Oct. 29, 2011.