Jack M. Hayne

Jack McVicar Hayne, 97, of Dupuyer, died Monday, February 26th, 2018, at the Pondera Medical Center in Conrad.

Jack was born November 22, 1920, in Great Falls to Power area homesteaders, George Roy and Effie McVicar Hayne.  The family with sister, Suzi, eventually settled in the Finch Farm area of Aberdeen, Washington.  Jack attended Finch Farm School, Weatherwax High School and Grays Harbor Junior College before his time at Washington State College in Pullman.  With the outbreak of WWII Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended Midshipman’s training at Columbia University.  Most of his service was in the Pacific theater, including Australia, New Guinea and Okinawa at war’s end.

During the war in San Francisco, Jack met and became engaged to Harriet Danielsen of the U. S. Marine Corps.  They were married in New Orleans when their service ended in April, 1946.

Jack and Harriet returned to WSC (now WSU) on the GI bill and worked in the grocery business in Seattle and Longview, Washington.  In 1953 the young family moved to the ranch in Dupuyer.  Jack led a busy, productive life as a cattle rancher, local historian, husband, and father of four children.

Jack’s interest in history began early.  As a toddler in the arms of his mother, he attended the 1923 Dempsey-Gibbons boxing match in Shelby.  Eventually he served as a member of the Lewis and Clark Commission and two terms as a member of the Montana Historical Society Board of Trustees.  He authored regional pieces on such diverse topics as narrow gauge railway, the extinct Glacier Park town of Altyn, the Baker Massacre on the Marias River and Dupuyer history.

Always an active community leader, Jack served on the school board, the Dupuyer Community Club and its many events and projects.  Into his 90’s he was organizing the Grizzly Day parade, as well as gathering and chopping his own wood.  He raised and tended a bountiful garden in the same plot for more than 60 years.  Jack could be depended on to notice and report the weather, as well as any number of scores and results from any number of sports.  In junior high Jack joined the school stamp club and collected stamps from around the world for more than 80 years, including 60+ years from Papua New Guinea.  Jack was also an active member of the local and state Republican party, twice representing Montana at national nominating conventions.  While Harriet served as State Representative, Jack was her chief of staff, giving their constituents two for the price of one.

Survivors include Jack’s sister, Margaret Sue (Suzi) Vander Stoep, Jack and Harriet’s children and grandchildren:  Mary (David) Tonkovich and Alexa; John (Leanne) Hayne and Carrie (Kip), Andria (Gary), Joleen (Marvin), Megan (Oliver) and Erica (Ian); Ali (Robert) Newkirk and Thomas; Nancy (Dennis) Williams and Wyatt and Harleigh; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and great-grandchildren, including Annabelle Mae, born February 27th, 2018.

After Harriet’s death in 2012, Jack lived at the Horizon Lodge, Rainbow Senior Living and Pondera Medical Center.  The family deeply thanks all the many caring staff members at each home for their incredible service to Jack and his family.

A memorial service with military honors will begin at 12 o’clock noon on Saturday, March 24th at the Dupuyer Community Hall.  Lunch will follow.  Jack’s cremains will be placed to rest next to Harriet in Dupuyer at a family gathering after the snow melts.

Memorials may be sent to the Dupuyer Community Club at POB 135, Dupuyer, MT 59432.