Richard Lawrence Bertlin

Richard Lawrence Bertlin, 61, of Missoula, passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at St. Patrick Hospital.
He was born on March 17, 1952 in Portland, Oregon. As a young boy, he played baseball and spent many a summer in Tillamook, OR and at the Oregon coast with his mother, Barbara Bertlin, aunt, Emma Groat and grandmother, Lillian Fortier. In 1962, the family moved to Missoula when his father, Stanley Bertlin, became sales manager at the Van Evans plywood mill. Summers were spent travelling and learning about Montana with his family. He attended elementary school in Missoula and graduated from Sentinel High School in 1970.
He joined the Missoula Rural Fire Department in 1970, first as a volunteer then joining as a paid firefighter in 1972. He proudly served the citizens of Missoula County for 32 years and retired as an Engineer in 2004. In his 32 years, he was extensively trained in firefighting techniques including certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). His passion for serving as a first responder extended beyond his role as a firefighter as he also drove ambulance for a number of years.
Speed, as he was affectionately known, had a lifelong love affair with the automobile, especially hot rods and muscle cars. He had many cars over the years that provided him hours of opportunity to tinker, customize, personalize and perfect to his individual taste. He also enjoyed car events from attending drag races with his brothers to participating in car shows with his Missoula car club, The Shifters.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Barbara and father, Stanley. He is survived by his brothers Brian, Mercer Island, WA; Paul, Missoula; David, Missoula; step mother Mary Ann Bertlin, Missoula; and step siblings, Gene Mostad, Missoula; Chris Mostad, Missoula; Randy Mostad, Billings; Nikki Mostad, Missoula; Mike Mostad, Missoula; Beckie (Mostad) Peterson, Missoula along with many in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Services will be Friday, March 7 at 2pm at Sunset Funeral Home, 7405 Mullan Road, Missoula
Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

Read Richard Bertlin's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.