Loren Floyd Hines, 71

Loren Floyd Hines, a beloved partner, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and endeared and admired R.N., passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at his Whitehall home on April 24, 2025.

Loren was born in Helena, MT, and was raised in Lewistown. In 1971, he quit high school, married Patty Toth, and joined the army. He and Patty had two children and later divorced. After six years of military service, he was honorably discharged and returned to Montana, where he worked as an auto mechanic and bank repo man. He volunteered at Highlands Hospice while attending nursing school. Only eleven years after he joined the service, he graduated from college. He passed the Nursing Boards, and two years later was promoted to head nurse of Pediatrics and Pediatrics ICU, and later Clinical Manager of the Regional Cancer Treatment Center at St. James Hospital in Butte. In 1988, he left St. James and became the first full-time employee of Highlands Hospice.

Later, he worked as a Director in Dillon, MT, and as a traveling nurse while also working as a caretaker of working ranches.

His career also included working for Easter Seals as a Medical Case Manager, Director of Highlands Hospice, and later Senior Director of Clinical Services. He also worked at Granite County Medical Center and Fresenius Dialysis Center. He retired in 2017.

During this and several subsequent attempts to retire, Loren worked his ranch, developed and worked a food truck business (a childhood dream), became a certified master gardener, volunteered at several places, including the Butte Literacy Program, spent time with his grandchildren, and continued to work as a nurse and in hospices.

Before the age of 20, Loren was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and military comrades, and later by two of his three brothers. He is survived by his partner of 27 years, Sandra Booth, his children, Joleen Hines and Raul Hines, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home in Butte at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. A reception will follow at a location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to give a gift to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butte, the Grace Fund Foundation of Butte, or the charity of their choice.

Loren's legacy lives in the hearts of his family, friends, and the innumerable individuals and families he served as a nurse.