Douglas 'Denny' Loring

Douglas Denis (Denny) Loring, 76, of Cut Bank, died from complications of cancer and heart troubles on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in a Great Falls hospital.  Wake and viewing begin Tuesday evening at the Old Eagle Shields in Browning and the Rosary service will be Wednesday at 7 pm at the Old Eagle Shields. Celebration of his life is at 1 pm, Thursday, April 25, at Little Flower Catholic Parish in Browning.  Interment will be at the Loring Ranch on Seville, followed by a dinner at Nolan and Katelin Conway’s home.

Denny was born on February 1, 1937, in Spokane, WA, to Horace ‘Shorty’ Loring and Beverly (Swingley) Loring. His childhood home was in Seville Flats on the ranch before residing in Babb until he was 16 years old. He attended Browning High School graduating in 1955. Denny attended Montana State University for a year before coming home to marry the love his life Francy Lukin in 1958 in a fairy tale wedding at the Little Flower Parish in Browning. They moved to Seville Flats and started the ranch and farming operation which Denny still was a part of until his death. They were blessed with three children, Doug, Mike and Teri.

Denny lived many lives and worked hard throughout his life. He worked in construction and started Loring Trucking in 1979 while still running the farm and ranch. More importantly Denny knew how to live life to the fullest. He was a saddle bronc rider in his younger days traveling around with his partner Buddy Connelly. Later he became an accomplished team roper that has been passed down to all his kids and his grandchildren. He was a great dancer which he taught all the kids how to jitterbug in the basement. He was a ping-pong player, golfer, skier, snowmobiler, bridge player for which he achieved Life Master status, and poker player. Denny helped re-establish the Cut Bank Saddle Club in the late 60s and early 70s. He was very active in the Cut Bank Elks Lodge and was Exalted Ruler in 1979/80. In recent years he loved being a rodeo fan following not only his family rodeo endeavors but the other rodeo stars from the area. Denny was a true-blue Dallas Cowboy fan through the good years and the bad.

Grandpa Denny loved his grandchildren:  Averi Magnuson (Arvie), Dustin Peres (Ashley), Wacey Dahle (Erin), Katelin Conway (Nolan), Bev Bos (Izzie), Jace Loring, Elijah Greene and James Greene. He was blessed with great-grandchildren, Danny, Mason, Biz, Lucia, Jett, Lemon, Addison, Harper and Hadley.

Denny and Francy opened their ranch to many kids and cowboys throughout their lives who became part of their family. They included Andy Nelson, Glen Moran, Greg Upham, Oyts Harrison, Pat Thomas, Mark Bird, Lee Bird and recently Craig Harry.

Denny is survived by his sweetheart of 54 years, Francy; his children, Doug (Betsy), Mike (Melanie) and Teri Dahle (Dennis) and two special daughters-in-law, Kelli Gustafson and Tana Loring.  Denny was lucky to have his special mother-in-law Nora Lukin; his brother Ronnie Glidden (Mary); cousins, Sissy Sinclair (Galen), Mimi Loring (Doug), Jackie Loring (Andy Nelson), Junie Fredericks and Murray Harwood. He enjoyed teasing his sisters-in-law, Mary Lynn Lukin, Helen Stiner and Donna Lukin. Denny is also survived by many nephews and nieces fondly called “Rugrats,”  Zane Stiner, Kim Stiner, Mary Beth Edens, Darcy Hall, Alan Lukin, Jesse Lukin and Wayne Hibbs.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents, Shorty and Bev; grandson, baby Dennis Michael Loring;  father-in-law, Albert Lukin; aunts, Ruby Mutch, Tikki Harwood, Lois Swingley and Merle Upham; uncles, Jack Loring and Bill Loring; cousins, Donna Merle Magnum, Karen Upham, Boogie Upham, Jockey Harwood, Kenny Harwood and Little Bill Loring; and two brothers-in-law, Charlie Lukin and Don Stiner.