Obituary - Karen M. "Flash" Hinebauch

Karen M. "Flash" Hinebauch, 72, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.

Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Linda Rose officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Karen's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Karen was born on April 14, 1942, in Havre to Martin and Karen (Berg) Ulven. She was raised on the family farm outside of Simpson. Karen attended schools in Havre, graduating from Havre High School in 1960. She attended Montana State University in Bozeman for a year, majoring in nursing, but discovered that she had too soft a heart for nursing, and returned to Havre to attend Northern Montana College, where she received her degree as a medical secretary. Karen married William Hinebauch in 1963, and the couple's union was blessed with two sons. The couple later divorced. Karen began working in medical records at Northern Montana Health Care in 1981, and retired in 2014, spending 33 years there. Her co-worker nick-named her "Flash" as a joke, and the name stuck.

Karen was a happy woman who enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge, playing the piano, and reading. She was a fun-loving woman, who loved to cook and play practical jokes on those she loved. She was the life of the party for most who knew her. She was very social and counted many people among her life-long friends. Karen's family was her world, and her grandchildren were the light of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parent, Martin and Karen Ulven; and her infant sister, Joyce Ulven.

Karen is survived by her sons, Lyle (Caryn - the "other" Karen Marie) Hinebauch of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Mike Hinebauch of Havre; her grandchildren, Jared and Ashtyn Hinebauch; her sisters, Mary Meland, Ruth Morse and Edith Gerky, all of Havre; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.