Henry “Hank” Lohr, age 84, of Townsend

HENRY “HANK” LOHR

Henry “Hank” Lohr, 84, passed away the evening of September 6, 2019 at Broadwater Health Center. He had been in declining health for sometime.

Hank was born Henry Edward Lohr on June 20, 1935 in Lima, MT. He was the oldest child of Otto and Edna (Fleming) Lohr. He attended school for 3years in Lima before his family moved to Dell, MT

Henry attended and graduated 8th grade from the one room red school house in Dell. The building served as the entire school system for Dell children from 1903-1963 with an average of 20 students each year. The school house still stands today as “Yesterdays Calf-A” a homestyle café.

Hank graduated from Dillon High School in May 1954. He was living and working in Dillon, MT when he met his wife Viola on a blind date, set up by his sister Betty and her sister Arla.

They married on June 24, 1956 at Skyway Methodist Church in Seattle, WA. They lived in Dillon where Hank worked as a mechanic for the new John Deere Agency.

Henry was drafted into the Army in October, 1957. He attended basic in Colorado and schooling at Fort Ord, Salinas, CA Viola joined him in Salinas, where their daughter Debra was born. He was sent to Germany 23 days later.

Henry was discharged in September, 1959 in Chicago and moved his family to Townsend, where their son Virgil was born. Henry worked as a mechanic for John Deere and head custodian for the Townsend School Dist. until starting his own business “Hank’s Salvage and Towing”. The business continues today, owned and operated by his grandson Hayden Lohr. Henry also worked as a security guard at RY Timber and as a reserve deputy for Broadwater County Sheriffs Office. He also worked for Connors Mortuary for a few years.

Henry was a member of the Masonic Valley Lodge #21 for over 50 years. He created the Broadwater County Rural Fire District in 1969. During his time as Rural Fire Chief, he trained local women to become firefighters-highly unusual for the times. Henry helped create a Mutual Aid Agreement with surrounding counties for assisting on a fire if needed. He also served as a deputy for the Montana State Fire Marshall as an arson investigator.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Edna, his sisters Betty Gibson and Alea Lohr, and brother Robert Lohr.

Hank is survived by his wife of 63 years, Viola, his children: Debra (Dennis) Roper, Virgil (Sheila) Lohr and grandchildren

Cremation has taken place. There are no services planned at this time. For anyone wishing to remember Hank in a special way, please consider making donations in his memory to Broadwater Health Center, Serenity Point Living or any Broadwater Fire Dept. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Henry.