Milton Sandlie

Our beloved husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, and friend, Milton B. Sandlie, died Aug. 8, 2007, in Republic, Wash., of heart failure. He was born Sept. 23, 1938, in Glasgow, Mont., to Adolph Peter and Mary Sandlie. He was raised in Bremerton, Wash., but driving down any stretch of highway was where his heart was.

He met and married the love of his life, Carolyn (Berciunas), on Dec. 24, 1960. He and his "little girl" had three daughters, Kimberly Hittinger of Moses Lake, Tammy Primmer of Cheney, and Debra Gray of Hemet, Calif. He also took Betty Jean Ohlund under his wing after his lifelong friend, Rudy Ohlund, died in a plane accident in 2003.

Milton played football for Koontz Jr. High in Bremerton and later received his GED and welding certification. He retired as a welder after 25 years at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1992.

Some of Dad's many adventures included hitchhiking across the country in his early teens; spending time with "hobos" and secretly catching train rides to destinations unknown; and driving any and all highways including the Alkan Highway to Anchorage, Alaska.

He worked in various areas such as Nome and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska; Long Beach, Calif.; Dallas, Texas; Philadelphia, Moses Lake, Todd's Shipyard, and other Puget Sound area businesses.

He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow, fishing, collecting "stuff," listening to books on tape, and traveling. He had a knack for making people laugh with his endless life-stories. He never met a stranger and always remembered a face.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carolyn. His daughters and their families, Kimberly Hittinger (husband Darrin; children Joshua, Jacob, Aimee, Justin, and Jessica); Tammy Primmer (husband Rick; children Christina Hergert, Brian Primmer, and Josiah Primmer); and Debra Gray (ex-husband Doug; children Heather Gray, Mikeal Gray, and Amber Barton); Betty Jean Ohlund. He had four great-grandchildren: Alexzander, Danyale, Aza, and Kayleigh. He also had many aunts, uncles, and cousins from Montana; a brother Lawrence Sandlie, and a sister Ramona Livingston.

He is preceded in death by his father, mother, brother, and all of his childhood buddies from Bremerton.

At his request, no services will be held but donations can be made in his name at any Bank of America.

We love and miss you Daddy and will never forget.

Bergh Funeral Service of Republic in care of Arrangements.