Norman C. Legato

Norman C. Legato, 91, of Huson, passed away in his home on Oct. 21, 2016. Born in Glendive on June 8, 1925, to Francesco and Fredricka Haidle Legato, Norm grew up on a farm in Fallon Flats until age 5, then moved to Glendive with his parents and two brothers, Albert and Robert and three sisters, Cecila, Virginia and Violet.

Upon graduating at age 18, he trained in Jamestown, North Dakota, for telegraphy and Morse Code where he later used these skills when he was called to serve his country in World War II from 1943 to 1946 in the Joint Assault Signal Company. Upon returning home, he started working for the Northern Pacific Railroad (later to become the Burlington Northern) as a telegrapher and later a dispatcher where he would work for 43 years. During which time he married Albina Vetter and together had eight children, Frank, Nancy, Deb, Lance, Mary, Tim, Troy and Tani. In addition to the railroad, he also owned and operated Legato Office Machines in Glendive where he met and later married Patricia Schleve, and together had one daughter, Mechele. They were soon transferred to the Missoula area where he later retired from the railroad in 1984.

During retirement, Norman and wife Patricia purchased, owned and operated the Sewing Emporium in downtown Missoula where he practiced his passion of sewing machine repair and she designed and marketed Montana Frontier Dusters.

Norman was the last sibling of his family to pass on and is survived by his wife, Patricia and his children, stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Norman was well liked by many and will be missed tremendously by family and friends. There will be a service to honor Norm on Nov. 13 after church services at the Frenchtown Community Church in Frenchtown.