Loretta Loftus

“You Bugger!” This is my favorite expression used by my dear friend Loretta Loftus who passed away last week. I counted it a real coup when Loretta and her husband Kermit walked into Community Alliance Church one Sunday. They had been faithful members of Calvary Baptist Church but when that church closed, they came to us and they stayed for many years. Not only did they stay but they also brought family and friends and invested themselves into the life of the church.

My wife, Karen, and I spent many hours with Loretta listening to her stories about people and events from Havre’s past. She knew everyone, it seemed. This person had been in her candy striper program at the hospital and that one had been in her Sunday School class and another had been in her Awana program. She told us about doctors and nurses she had known and the history of the hospital and, of course, about her large and remarkable family.

Loretta believed in the people of Havre and Havre itself. Once, when there had been a rash of burglaries in town she said, “Somebody better tell those people we don’t act like that in Havre!”

As a pastor, I valued Loretta because she was a “Prayer Warrior.” She believed prayer changed things so she prayed. We’d meet together at her house every Wednesday and, after catching the end of “Wheel of Fortune,” we’d pray. We’d pray for family and friends and the population of Havre in general and various needs of the community and finally missionaries around the world. And whenever I had something stressful going on I’d ask Loretta to pray for me knowing she would be knocking on the door of heaven in my behalf.

And she prayed a lot for her grandchildren. Each week we’d follow her tales of their activities from childhood to adulthood. I’m sure that her final prayers included each one who were so dear to her. Not only did she pray for them, but she also told them how it was. Loretta didn’t beat around the bush. “This is right and that isn’t so you kids better do what’s right.”

And could Loretta make a pie! I was fortunate enough to get a lemon meringue pie once a year. She’d make pies for church socials and other events. When I was raising money for the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen Loretta made a dozen pies of all types and we auctioned them off for a hundred dollars a pie.

Eventually I retired and moved away and Loretta moved to Great Falls to live with her daughter, Diana. But we’d call her from time to time and she’d answer the phone as if she was expecting our call. For a few minutes we were back in Montana and not 1,500 miles away. She’d give us the news and keep us informed about people — some we didn’t even know, but that was OK. Loretta used to attend a lot of funerals. I’d ask her what she did that week and she’d tell me that she’d been to this funeral and that funeral. I’d ask did she know these people and often she did (because she knew everybody) and sometimes she didn’t. She just thought it was right to go and show her support. When Pastor Munya was hired to take my place at the church I told him to be sure and take care of Loretta. She was important and people would want her attended to. He assured me that “Miss Loretta” was already a priority. I can’t help but smile and get a bit misty reflecting on this wonderful woman. I don’t know who will take her place looking after the people of Havre in prayer but I know heaven will be a bit better to have her there.

Pastor Tim Zerger