Michael Sassano

Visitation: Thursday, April 8, 2010 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 650 Logan St.

Vigil service: Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Helena.

Funeral Mass: Friday, April 9, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Helena with interment and graveside military honors to follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.

Michael Sassano of Helena passed away on April 1, 2010 at the age of 88. He was born in Billings, MT on January 6, 1922.

He is the oldest son born of Italian immigrants from San Marco, Italy to Louis and Archangela-Lombardozzi Sassano. He graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1940 and moved to Seattle to work for Boeing building attack bombers for France. He enlisted into the United States Navy on July 21, 1942 in Seattle, WA. While serving, he attended gunnery and landing craft training in San Diego and also played baseball for the Navy. Mike served aboard the USS Bowie until December 27, 1945 earning the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Mike re-entered the service on August 10, 1950 in Helena, MT and served on the USS Arequipa until November 29, 1951 earning the China Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the Navy Occupation Medal.Mike attended Montana State College (Bozeman) in 1946, and graduated in 1950 from MSU (Missoula) earning a Bachelors degree in Education. He returned to Billings, MT in 1951 and began working for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company. He subsequently moved to Missoula and then back to Helena in 1959, retiring from Ma Bell in 1982. While living in Helena he belonged to the Exchange Club, the Montana Club, the Green Meadow Country Club, played on the Telephone Company bowling team, and was a member of the Cathedral of St. Helena Parish. After retirement, Mike worked for the State Legislature and served as Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the House of Representatives.

Mike married Armelda Mae Phillips in 1953 at St Patricks Church in Billings, MT. They were married 56 years and had seven children.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, one brother Tony Sassano, and a sister Michelina Sassano, and two children, Mary Jo (age 3), and Julie Sassano-Robbins (age 54).

He is survived by his wife, his children Nikki DeWolf (Joe), Jan Kalgaard (Steve), Gina Dowdy (Mark), Pat Sassano (Amy), all of Helena, and Mike Sassano (Deb) of Ft Bragg, NC. Mike is also survived by his grandchildren Ray Carlson (Drenda), Ian Anderson, Kristina Robbins, Kacey Boyle (Tim), Brian and Paul Kalgaard, Michaela, Connor, Josephine, Luke and Will Dowdy, Colin, Cale, and Cohen Sassano, Alexander and Angelina Sassano, and three great grandsons, Robert and Wesley Carlson, and Parker Boyle, his brothers and sisters Columbia Meinhardt (Bill), Mary Schwend, and Nick all of Billings, MT and Father Rock Sassano of Fishhawk Lake, OR, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike found happiness in spending time with his family and summers at the family cabin on Canyon Ferry Lake. He was an avid sports fan and followed all games and practices of his childrens sports activities. Mike and Armelda attended all Carroll College, Capital and Helena High School sporting events.

Visitation will begin Thursday morning, April 8th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 650 Logan St from 11 a.m. 5 p.m. A Vigil service will be held Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Helena. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, April 9, 2010 at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Burial with military honors will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Memorials in Mikes name are suggested to the Cathedral of St Helena and Hospice of St Peters, 2475 Broadway St., Helena, MT 59601.Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com. Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. (Formerly Hagler-Anderson Mortuary)