The family of Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Rettberg held a small, candle-light service Tuesday night for the greatly loved man they lost in a helicopter crash Friday.
Wednesday a 10 a.m. funeral mass was held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.The funeral comes 39 years after Rettberg met his wife, Frances Lanzo, on Valentine's Day in 1961. The two were married later that year.
"They're inseparable. They're the best example of a long-term relationship I've ever seen," daughter Lori Lucas said. "They always grew and were always changing."
Tom Rettberg, 58, West Jordan, had no sons but left behind three daughters who said their dad always pushed them to follow their dreams.
"He taught us how to survive," Lucas said. "He made us better men than most sons are."
A huge Clint Eastwood fan, Rettberg also had a complete collection of John Wayne videos. His family said Rettberg always played Merle Haggard tapes and referred to Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks as "his girls." He also frequented mountain-man rendezvous, loved the outdoors and could repair anything.
But, Kim Rettberg, who now lives in Hollywood, said her dad wasn't all country and had a hip side. When he came to visit she would take her dad to "the crazy clubs in L.A." where the UHP lieutenant could hold his own on the dance floor.
At times Rettberg was silly. He was first in line to enter "best legs competitions" in bars, his daughters said.
"He would always win too. He would get up their and wiggle his butt, and everyone would pick him because he was 50, and all the other guys were 20," daughter Polly Tracy said.
Around town and at restaurants their dad was a huge flirt, his daughters said. After polishing off a good meal would always tell the waitress, "I hated it, take it back."
When his favorite football team, the Minnesota Vikings, scored a touchdown, Rettberg would leap from "his spot" on the couch, go over the coffee table and do a "funky chicken dance."
If he would phone home while out of town he would always ask, "are you in my spot on the couch?" or "what are you doing with my stuff?" his family said.
Tracy remembers her father taking her to the hospital when she was in labor. As she lay in the back seat wincing in pain he stopped off at the 7-Eleven to get coffee and donuts.
"I didn't know if I was going to have the baby there at the 7-Eleven or what," Tracy said.
Still, the UHP lieutenant had a serious side. When his two eldest grandsons got caught shoplifting when they were about 10 years old, their grandfather was called to take care of the situation. He left his handcuffs out in the sun for about an hour until they were hot, then he cuffed the two young boys. The pair haven't shoplifted since.
"He was always firm but fair and would never judge anyone -- on the job or at home," Tracy said.
Rettberg served in the U.S. Navy for four years and spent 10 years at the Tooele Army Depot before putting in 25 years with UHP. Investigators have yet to determine what caused the helicopter to crash in a Woods Cross field. By all accounts Rettberg was an accomplished pilot who didn't take risks. Helicopter mechanic Thomas Bahoravitch, 40, Ogden, was also killed in the crash.
Rettberg is survived by his wife, three daughters, eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and two siblings: Betty Spangler and Alvin Smith.
The family asks that donations be made to Shop With a Cop, c/o Utah Highway Patrol, 4501 S. 2700 West, West Valley City, UT 84119.