Hal Rosich obituary
Harold L. (Hal) Rosich passed away peacefully in his home Saturday morning. He leaves behind his lovely wife, Vickie Rosich of Butte. Hal is also survived by his son Rick of Kirkland, WA, daughters, Jenny Jo of Nashville, TN, Heather and her husband, Dave Bolster of Post Falls, ID, and sisters, Bunny Sniderich and Margie and Kurt Metzler of Washington. Hal's family includes many grandchildren, nieces and nephews, in-laws and, of course, far too many friends to list.
Hal was born January 11, 1947 and raised in Butte, attending St. John's, East Junior High and Butte High School, and later, Montana Tech. Hal was always athletic; and as a young boy he fully recovered from a broken back which doctors said would leave him unable even to walk. After much perseverance and hard work, Hal not only recovered, he participated and excelled in sports. As a young boy, he took up speed-skating and played baseball and basketball. Then in the 7th grade, Hal started playing football. He was broad-shouldered and strong, which coupled with his drive and desire, made him an excellent lineman. Hal played football and wrestled through high school and into college. Hal was on the 1964 Butte High Bulldogs undefeated State Champion team, which is in the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. He attended Montana Tech and Eastern, always working, competing in sports and studying at the same time. Hal earned journeyman status as an Ironworker and a heavy equipment mechanic. He worked for the Anaconda Co. in Butte until there was a strike and then he moved all over the West on heavy construction, always returning when the strikes ended. During one strike, Hal "boomed" to Seattle to find temporary work. Then in 1992, Hal and Vickie married and they remained in Seattle where he worked for Boeing until his retirement in 2006. They then returned to Butte and re-established their life here.
Hal dearly loved being with friends, which could even be anyone from early childhood to someone who had been a complete stranger 10 minutes earlier. He was a very funny man, always ready with a good story or joke, adding accents and dialects to make them even funnier. Hal probably could have had a career as a comedian if he had pursued that path.
After retirement, he hunted, camped all over SW Montana, travelled abroad, cheered for the Seahawks and tinkered, fully enjoying every one of them. However, beside his family, his real loves were music and fishing. Hal became an accomplished musician and was in a group (Slice in Time) playing at parties, band-nights and jam sessions around Butte. He was always ready to drop whatever he was doing to sit in on a session with other musicians. Hal was an avid and good fisherman and always eager to hit one of the nearby Blue Ribbon streams or lakes on a moment's notice. All his former classmates, team mates, fishing buddies and many, many friends will certainly miss his smiling face, the laughter and the good times.
Relatives and friends are asked to join with the family this Saturday morning after 10:00am at Duggan Dolan Mortuary. Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 11:00am in the Chapel. Internment or cremains will be at a later date. Memorials are requested to the Butte Food Bank or a charity of the donor's choice.