Jerry Joe Albus

Joe Albus, 72, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, from natural causes at the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta, Mont.

He was born Sept. 5, 1942, in Baraboo, Wis., to Emil and Betty (Hubbard) Albus. He attended all his school years in Saco and graduated with the class of 1960. He married Joan Beadle and they lived in Helena where he was employed. They had a son, Chad, and later divorced.

He married Helen "Cookie" Tafolla in Helena in 1964 (they later divorced). He was employed by Pat Strong Motors (Volkswagen) and later by Pat Strong at Mid-Mountain Sales where he worked on motorcycles and snowmobiles. He was known by many as "The Wrench," because he could get those motors running no matter what the problem was. He rode in several snowmobile races and always placed high, if not the winner.

The family moved to Saco in 1973 and built a house on the Rielley Place north of town. Jerry farmed and ran the Divide Repair business with his dad.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Betty; a sister, Judy; and a grandson, Spencer Costin.

Survivors include two daughters, Coleen Costin and her husband, David, and Liane Albus; and two sons, Aaron Albus and his wife, Kirsten, and Chad Thompson; a sister, Sue Marshall; six grandsons, Landon, Jeremy, Nate and Ben Costin, Brady and Chase Albus; and one granddaughter, Amber Thompson.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. at the Saco Lutheran Church, with burial following at the Grandview Cemetery in Saco.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow was in charge of arrangements.