A Montana cowboy is back feeding his horses in the big Montana ranch in the sky. Oreste Rusty Bosso died on September 2, 2006. Rusty was born on June 17, 1912, in Mulberry, Kansas, youngest of three children of Peter and Maddelina Bosso, who immigrated to the U.S. from Torino, Italy. He grew up tending cattle and horses on the family ranch in Roberts, Montana, and married the daughter of a neighboring rancher, Bertha Hannah Tunnicliffe. Together they had three children, David, Dorothy and Dianne. He came to Richland in 1943 to assist in building the City of Richland and Hanford Atomic Works plant. Rusty accepted a job in Thule Greenland in 1957 and helped build the U.S. underground missile system. He worked as skilled construction engineer until retirement at age 72. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Union for 65 years and a Worthy Brother of the Masonic Order since 1949, Richland Lodge No. 283.

Rusty was a founding chapter member of the Richland Rider's Club, a weekend cowboy group that enjoyed riding and rodeo sports.  He participated in rodeo for many years riding his favorite horse, ''Chico'' and roped calves.   Rusty lived for over sixty years in Richland, but his heart always remained in Montana, where he visited often.  A highlight of his life was visiting the Italian family in a small village outside of Torino, Benne di Correo, where he still remembered to speak Italian and met and loved his family who had remained in Italy all these years.

A Masonic graveside service will be held on Friday, September 8, 2006, at 10:00 am at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Richland, WA.  Pallbearers include:  Brett Leischner, Michael Grundmeyer, Josh Tiffany, Dale Leischner, Robert Tucker, and Earle Smith.  Internment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.