Bodley Vacura

MISSOULA - Bodley B. Vacura, 97, passed away at his daughter’s home on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009.





Bodley was born on January. 21, 1912, in Camas Prairie to Annie and Louis Vacura. Bodley graduated from Plains High School. Bodley would marry Helen Wells in 1936 and they spent 56 wonderful years together dancing, playing bridge and golfing. Bodley served honorably in World War II and saw action in Italy, France and Germany; he fought valiantly in the Battle of the Bulge and was stationed aboard ship en route to the Pacific Theater to fight against Japan when the war ended.





He graduated with the second graduating class of the Montana Highway Patrol in 1938. Bodley worked in Columbus and Anaconda; he served as captain in Helena and was district commander of the Patrol in Great Falls. Bodley finally retired from the patrol 1963. The family moved to Missoula in 1961. He worked with the Missoula Sheriff’s office for a time after retirement from the Highway Patrol.





Bodley had many business interests in Missoula; he owned the first automatic car wash in Missoula, had an interest in an auto parts store, and was involved in VW ice with his son Tom. As part of that partnership, Bodley mentored many young men and made many friends and business associates.





He was past president of the local VFW, a member of Grizzly Scholarship Association; past board member of the retired Highway Patrol Association, where he was instrumental in restructuring the Montana Highway Patrol retirement system. He was an avid Grizzly basketball and football fan, attending basketball games until he was 96 years old. After retirement, he and his wife Helen traveled extensively in the states and overseas.





Bodley lived a long, varied, interesting life with many accomplishments; the most important being his relationships with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.





Bodley is survived by daughter, Collette (Richard) Johnson, and son, Tom of Missoula; three grandchildren, Lisa (Scott) Sterneckert of Westlake, Ohio, Andrea (Jim) Meckes of Avon, Ohio, and Ken (Shelly) Johnson of Missoula; six great-grandchildren, Cody and Mackenzie Meckes, Ava and Liam Johnson, Connor and Amanda Sterneckert. In addition, he is survived by sisters, Levina Noll of Fairbanks, Alaska, Ramona (Glenn) Larson of Missoula, Roxy Brothers of Kalispell; and brother, Joe (Florence) of Kalispell. Bodley is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews.





Bodley was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen; great-granddaughter, Cloe Sterneckert; sisters, Edith, Gertie and Florence; and his brothers, Ed, Clarence, Wesley, Albert, John and Jerry.





Instead of flowers, please make donations to Montana Highway Patrol Troopers Association charity: Montana Hope Project, P.O. Box 5927, Helena MT 59604.





Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 217 Tremont St., Missoula. A luncheon will follow the Mass in the church hall; inernment will follow the luncheon at Old St. Mary’s Cemetery at 2 p.m. with military honors. Sunset Memorial Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.






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