Loren A. Jenkins

Loren Jenkins passed away August 27, 2026, at the age of 85. Loren was born on February 5, 1941, in Havre, Montana to Alvin and Gertrude Jenkins. He was raised on the farm that his grandparents, Walter and Myrtle Jenkins, had homesteaded. Loren started school in a one-room rural school and later graduated from Big Sandy High School in the class of 1959.

After marrying Eldonna (Donna) Halter in September of that year, Loren worked at various jobs for a few years including as a ranch hand and driving a logging truck. His favorite jobs always involved working with horses, and he owned a number of them during his years. By 1964, Loren and Donna returned to operate the Jenkins farm where he had grown up.

Along the way, Loren and Donna had three sons (Alvin, Don, and Ben). When the boys were in high school, Loren became the voice of the Big Sandy Pioneers athletic teams from 1974 to 1994, whenever he could.

Loren had always been interested in politics. He served in the Montana Legislature from 1984 - 1988 then he served in the Montana Senate from 1988 – 1990 and from 1994 – 1998. While in the Senate, he served on finance and claims, fish and game, and natural resources committees. During this time in the Senate, he shared an office with one of the Democratic senators. He commented later that “you should listen to the other side because sometimes you learned something new.” Although Loren was a classic Republican during his time in the legislature, many of his bills were passed by relying on his friends on both sides of the aisle.

In 2014, Loren was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, an honor that was immense point of pride for him.

Loren was always outgoing and was interested in people. No one was a stranger to him for very long after he met them. He would strike up conversations with strangers and hold court with friends. Loren was a master storyteller with hundreds of mesmerizing stories from his most interesting life that he clearly enjoyed sharing.

Loren was preceded in death by son, Don, his younger brother, Dan Underdal, and his sisters, Gail Jenkins Behan and Terry Jenkins Mills.

He is survived by his of wife of 67 years, Donna Jenkins; his two sons, Alvin (Clare) and Ben (Lisa); and Don’s wife Misty. He is also survived by Ben’s four children, Kimberly, Nathan, Tanner, and Trey Jenkins, and Don’s two children Mackenzie (Karston) Donovan and their son Royce, and Cooper Jenkins and his son Haze.

He also leaves behind two sisters, Janet Duvall and Jeanine Roadhouse (Dan), and one brother Kelly Jenkins (Carrie).

Loren Jenkins passed away August 27, 2026, at the age of 85. Services will be held at the Big Sandy Methodist Church on Saturday, September 19, at 2:00 pm with interment to follow in the Big Sandy Cemetery. His family has suggested memorial donations be made in Loren’s memory to the Big Sandy Fire & Ambulance Service, Big Sandy Medical Center, or the charity of the donor’s choice. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.