George Haines, age 96, of Hysham

George Edward Haines, peacefully went home to be with Jesus on December 2, 2024, about 4:00 pm at the Rosebud Healthcare Center Long Term Care Facility, comforted by his wife and bonus daughter.

George was born on September 22, 1928, in Glendive, Montana to Lawrence Rubin and Opal Burt Haines. He joined his brother, Larry.

When George was six months old, the family moved to Forsyth, Montana, where the grandparents lived. Grandfather Burt was able to give the family land for them to farm. Grandfather had gone to a Lumberman’s convention, where he was given an award for having traveled the farthest. The award was two box cars of lumber, which were delivered to the farm site. A house and the outbuildings were built from that award. When Opal was hanging curtains in 1930, younger brother Ralph decided it was time for him to arrive. It was at this house where George and brothers, Larry and Ralph grew up.

The boys attended school at Sanders, Montana, through the eighth grade. While at Sanders, George joined several other boys to make up a basketball team. They played basketball in the Sanders Gym. While at Sanders school, George and brothers took their lunch time to go play in the river. The principal sent them home telling them they needed their mother’s excuse for them to get back in school. She didn’t believe them because she had not been told they were out of school. She took them back. It was explained to her and she took the boys home with her because of not having been told before hand that they had been to the river to play. From the Sanders elementary school, George went to Hysham High School graduating in 1947, a member of the class of 15 students.

At age 14 is when George started his farming career, farming in the Yellowstone Valley between Hysham and Forsyth.

January 1949, George married Dixie Ross. From this union, one daughter was born, Vickie Haines Krause.

May, 1986, George married Ina Thompson in the Hysham Baptist Church. Following their honeymoon, George returned to begin working on his farming.

George was a member of the ASCS committee when he married Ina. He chose to leave that group because his wife lived in Hysham. He had been a member of the Forsyth Young Men’s Club.

George asked Stan Watson to help him expand the bedroom of the house they lived in. They very carefully took out the large window and reinstalled it in the new part of the room. This included the leaded glass diamonds at the top of the window. Having never done this kind of work before, George was a very quick learner. Experience that he used many times after.

1996, George took Ina and Keith on a three-week trip where they visited the Midway Baptist Church at Thomasville, Alabama and helped build their fellowship hall. George was given a “Sawing Award” for having cut up the plywood that was used in the building. On this trip, they visited both friends and family from Texas to Michigan. This was the longest George had been away from his business.

1994 found George and Ina moving to the county where they lived for another 12 years before becoming “snow birds” and moving west to Hysham, where they lived since.

1995, George and Ina followed Keith to the Special Olympic World Games held in New Haven, Conn. While there at the swim meets held in New London, they watched a submarine descend into the waters of the sound. An interesting experience!

As George and Ina lived in Hysham, they joined and Hysham Baptist Church. After some years, they joined the First Baptist Church of Colstrip.

Over the years, George bowled until his motorcycle bounced off a rock coming downhill chasing a cow and he injured his shoulder.

Another job he took on was working for the beet dump. That was a job he enjoyed for many years until he injured his rotor cuff which ended that job.

George enjoyed working on puzzles. After he fell off the carport roof, breaking his heel and was mending, he worked on puzzles which Ina modge podged. Eventually, he was able to figure out how to make frames for the puzzles he put together, giving many to family and friends. George was privileged to be an uncle to 5 Eagle Scouts.

George was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, father, Lawrence Rubin Haines; mother, Opal Burt Haines; brother, Larry Rubin Haines; sister in law, Iris Haines; brother, Ralph Eugene Haines; sister in law, Louella Haines; grandson, Monty Smith; bonus son, Keith Thompson; niece, Betty Lou Fitzer; nephew, Bill Haines.

George is survived by his wife, Ina C. Haines; daughter, Vickie (Dennis) Krause; grandson, Donny Smith; bonus children, Lyle (Judy) Lane, Ronald (Cathy) Lane, James (Deborah) Lane, Susan (Mike) Long, Edward (Kristin) Thompson; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Many thank you’s are needed and impossible to express to the doctors, nurses, CNA’s and staff at Rosebud Healthcare Center Long Term Care Facility. The people all took excellent care of George and Ina during George’s stay at the facility. These people shared much love with George.

Holding your hand for the last time was the second most difficult thing I have ever had to do.

Letting go of your hand for the last time was the first.

Service Schedule

Family to Receive Friends

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Monday December 9, 2024

Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home

Forsyth, Montana 59327

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Funeral Service

11:00 am

Tuesday December 10, 2024

Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home

Forsyth, Montana 59327

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Interment

Following the Funeral Service

Tuesday December 10, 2024

Forsyth Cemetery

Forsyth, Montana 59327

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