The Missoulian
Obituary
Friday, February 26, 1999
Oliver Floyd Sackett
MISSOULA - Oliver Floyd Sackett, 73, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1999, at his home in Missoula after suffering a heart attack.
He was born on Nov. 27, 1925, in Klamath Falls, Ore., to Edwin Floyd Sackett and Helen Elizabeth Henkle. His family came to Missoula in 1937.
Oliver was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and spent 13 months on Iwo Jima. He was honorably discharged at the end of World War II and returned to Missoula. He then married his high school sweetheart, Isobel D'Amboise, in 1947.
After his discharge, he returned to Northern Pacific Railway as a clerk. He worked for the Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern until the end of December 1987, retiring from the position of chief clerk. Oliver also served 21 years as treasurer/manager of the Missoula N.P. Federal Credit Union.
He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. He also belonged to the United Commercial Travelers, the United Brotherhood of Railway Clerks and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Oliver was a member of Pope John XXIII Catholic Church.
His greatest passion was driving. He was the rock and cornerstone of his family. He was always there with help and a good sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Isobel Sackett; his father, Edwin Sackett; one daughter and her husband, Rita and Larry Schulze; three sons and their wives, Stephen and Judy Sackett, Daniel and Mary Sackett, and David and Judy Sackett; four grandchildren; two brothers, Dale and Robert Sackett; one sister, Evelyn Masterson; and one aunt, Iris Krol.
Visitation will be on Friday, Feb. 26, from 3 to 7 P.M. at Garden City Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 P.M. A vigil service will be held at 7 P.M. at the funeral home. After the vigil service a reception will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 312 E. Pine St.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 A.M. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Pope John XXIII Catholic Church, 1475 Eaton, with Father Frank McCormick and Father John Wong as celebrants. A reception will follow at the church. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, March 1, at the new St. Mary's cemetery.
OLIVER FLOYD SACKETT
Oliver Floyd Sackett, born Klamath Falls, Oregon, November 27, 1925. Moved with family to Missoula, Montana, August 1937. Joined the Navy November 16, 1943. Began active duty November 26, 1943, with Basic Training Co.1021, Camp Hill, Farragut Naval Station, Idaho. Attended radio school Camp Peterson, Farragut, Idaho. Attended teletype school Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California. Attended teletype maintenance school while in Reserve Communications Unit 25, Iroquois Point, Oahu, Hawaii. Assigned to Communications Unit 434, a unit of GRO PAC II Service Force.
Arrived off Iwo Jima Feb. 19,1945, aboard the USS Thurston. Went ashore February 23rd. Viewed both the first and second (famous) flag raisings. Assisted with setting up communications center in joint operation with Army. Moved from Army base camp to Naval Base 3150, Iwo Jima. Continued working joint communications center installing and maintaining teletype and radio teletype machines on island. Spent total of 13 months on Iwo Jima. Returned to States aboard LST 746 USS Angel Puss at end of March 1946. Seaman 1st Class.
After discharge, returned to Northern Pacific Railway as clerk in Missoula, Montana. Worked for the NP and Burlington Northern until end of December 1987, retiring from the position of Chief Clerk. Also served 21 years as Treasurer/Manager of Missoula N.P. Federal Credit Union.
Married, celebrated 42nd anniversary September 1989 with a return trip to Hawaii. Have one daughter, three sons, three grandsons, two granddaughters and two great granddaughters.
From the Sunday Missoulian, September 28, 1997.
Family reunion marks Sacketts' 5Oth
Oliver and Isobel Sackett, 2210 S. Ninth W., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary the first week in August with a family reunion and anniversary dinner.
Oliver Floyd Sackett and Isobel Rita D'Amboise were married Sept. 6, 1947, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.
A Missoula County High School graduate, Oliver served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He was involved in the invasion at Iwo Jima and later worked in naval communications with Unit 434.
After returning home, he worked for the Northern Pacific Railway. He retired from Burlington Northern in December 1987. From 1963 to 1983 Oliver was treasurer and manager of the Missoula Northern Pacific Credit Union.
Isobel graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1947. She was office manager of the Missoula Northern Pacific Credit Union from 1967 to 1983.
The couple have four children: Rita and Larry Schulze of Lopez Island, Wash.; Stephen and Judy Sackett of Quinlan, Texas; Daniel and Mary Sackett of Missoula and David and Judy Sackett of Phoenix; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
