Loren Wesley Davis (91)
March 19, 1934 – January 31, 2026
Loren W. Davis was born in Somers, MT on March 19, 1934, as the middle child of William V. (Tine) Davis and Blanche J. (Stevens) Davis. He joined older brother, Delmar and older sister, Narcheta and was later followed by Twyla and Kenneth. He lived his entire life in Montana aside from the years he served in the U.S. Army which started on his birthday, 1954.
After his discharge from the Army, he moved to Great Falls and went to work as a service technician for Anderson Office Machines on January 2, 1957. He met Avis Stockstad through his sister, Narcheta and they were married on August 24, 1957. While they were living in Great Falls, his sons Wesley A. and Joel W. Davis were born and Loren moved into sales with Anderson Office Machines. In the summer of 1961, Loren moved with his family to Helena to open a branch office, running the business out of his home.
As the business grew, so did his family with the birth of his sons, Brett D. and Darrell L. Davis. In 1967, Harry Anderson asked Loren if he’d like to purchase the Helena branch office. The transfer happened on January 1, 1968, and Loren renamed the company Davis Business Machines, Inc. He did sales in the morning and service in the afternoon, using his garage as his home base and Avis was the bookkeeper. They did this until Loren realized he needed help that summer. He’d gotten the contract with the Helena School District to clean all their typewriters, so he hired his first employee, Dale Firman. In 1970, he purchased his first office space at 637 Helena Ave., and the company began to grow. Branches were opened in Bozeman in 1972, followed by Great Falls in 1973 and Butte in 2000. In the Spring of 1980, the company outgrew their space in the Helena location and moved into the Larson Building at 1429 Helena Ave. He would eventually end up with up to 36 full time employees and cover the center of Montana from Canada to the north and Wyoming to the south.
While Loren was busy building his company, he was also contributing to his community. Through the years, he was involved in various organizations, such as the JayCees, Helena Elks Lodge, and Helena Lions Club to name just a few. It was some of the entities that he helped get started or restarted that touched his heart the most. In 1972, he and Terry Harris started the Montana Office Machine Dealers Association so Montana dealers could have a voice with the National Association. He had served on the board of the Helena Property Owners Association whose purpose was to be a watchdog over the City and County governments’ spending and controls on private citizens. He helped start the Lewis and Clark County Veterans Memorial Foundation which took on the responsibility of management, maintenance and repair of the L&C Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park. Loren was also instrumental in reviving the St. Peter’s Hospital Harvest Ball and helping get the Liberty House Foundation started on the grounds of the VA. He also served on the Ft. Harrison Military Museum Board as well as the Military Affairs Committee of the Helena Chamber of Commerce.
If you were to ask him what his greatest joy was, he’d tell you it was his time serving the Last Chance Stampede. Loren started as one of the chairmen of the Parade committee but then moved on to be the Chairman of the Stampede. He served in that capacity for 20 years with Fritz Smith being his co-chairman for several years. There were many attractions added during his tenure including the carnival rides and the arena attractions between events. He helped make it more than just a rodeo, but an event for everyone to participate in and enjoy. In 2019, Loren was one of the initial inductees of the L&C Fairgrounds “Wall of Honor”.
His marriage to Avis ended in early 1980 and he married Judith A. McHugh in May 1981. That was about the time his company began hitting their quota marks to the degree that Loren was being honored with trips around the world by the Minolta Corporation Honor Council. Their first trip was to Paris, France followed with trips to Italy, Greece, London, China, Hawaii and Argentina just to name a few. He also exceeded his quotas with Ricoh Corporation for many years. He basically had one philosophy about business. If you take good care of your customers and your employees, they will take good care of you. That was well exemplified in the dozen or so employees that had left over the years, only to come back after they realized they had it better working for Loren Davis. He also refused to carry any products the company couldn’t service or provide supplies for.
Loren was very well respected by his community. He was a very patriotic, humble man who believed in his country, hard work and always helping others whenever he could. In 2018, after a good 50-year run, Loren decided to sell the company and turn over all his various committee engagements to the younger generations. By this time, he had been named “Montana Small Business Champion” of the year by National Federation of Independent Business in 2008 for his years of commitment to promoting small business. Davis Business Machines, Inc. also had the distinction of being the largest independent office machine company in the state of Montana.
There was so much more to Loren Davis than work and committees though. He was often quoted as saying there are 24 hours in a day: 8 for sleeping, 8 for working and 8 for playing. Loren enjoyed having a good time. In the early years, he spent President’s Day weekend with his siblings and their spouses on snowmobile adventures in Yellowstone Park. He enjoyed snow skiing, being out on the lake with his boat, travelling down the highway on his Harley, or just relaxing at his cabin in the Elkhorn Mountains. He enjoyed horseback riding – having been a member of the Helena Trail riders when he was a younger man. He got to see parts of the Bob Marshall Wilderness on a horse trail ride. Loren also enjoyed hunting big game, but that came to a halt after he had to pack a bull elk out by himself on one of his expeditions. There wasn’t much Loren wouldn’t try at least once and had many friends along the way who were comrades in the adventures.
In 2000, Loren lost his wife, Judy, to cancer and over the next few years, he also lost his sons Darrell and Wesley. Loren was also preceded in death by his parents, Tine and Blanche Davis; siblings Delmar (Evelyn), (Beth) Davis; Narcheta (Homer) Gibson, Twyla (Bob) Stratton and Kenny (Jackie) Davis.
He is survived by his sons, Joel Davis and Brett (Sheri) Davis; his stepsons, Scott (Shona) McHugh and Mark McHugh; his grandchildren Jori (Cody) Mummey; Devin (Wesley) Davis; Heather (Jeremy) Wittenburg; Alex McHugh; Tori McHugh, Ryan McHugh, and Kelsey McHugh; and several great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews that he adored. At the time of his death, he had also enjoyed a long-term relationship with Judy Golob who also survives him.
A memorial service in celebration of Loren’s life will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 9, 2026, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home 3750 N. Montana Avenue, a reception will follow in the social center of the funeral home. Burial with military honors is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Committal Shelter at the Montana State Veteran Cemetery at Ft. Harrison, Montana.
Memorials in Lorens name are suggested to the Lewis & Clark Humane Society P.O. Box 4455 Helena, Montana 59604
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Monday February 9, 2026
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following his Celebration of Life
Monday February 9, 2026
Social Center of the Funeral Home
,
Burial with Military Honors
1:30 p.m.
Monday February 9, 2026
Montana State Veteran Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Monday February 9, 2026
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediately following his Celebration of Life
Monday February 9, 2026
Social Center of the Funeral Home
,
Burial with Military Honors
1:30 p.m.
Monday February 9, 2026
Montana State Veteran Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana
Share
Fran says
Thank you, Loren, for making a difference in our community! Bless you for your many acts of service.
Kevin Bartsch says
Helena has lost another true Icon. Loren’s commitment to the Helena community contributed in so many ways! He was a great friend of more than 50 years with my Dad dating back to their Jaycee days. Many good times were had on Big Sky ski trips and other guy weekend events! I’m sure Dad, Bob Pennington, Noral Johnson, Tom Twichel and many others were there waiting to welcome him and share a beer like old times. He was one of the good ones! Blessings to his entire family.
Jim Sheets says
Loran was a great guy. My dad ,Clayton and Loran were business partners and served on the military affairs committee, lions club, JayCees, and more they were also great friends. Loran was fun to be around. I always enjoy this company. RIP Loran it was great knowing you.
Ray & Duzzie Stolp says
Loren was a wonderful man and friend, we have been very blessed knowing him, to his family, please take comfort knowing he is in the arms of the Lord
Steve Corrigan says
It is not easy writing this, since he was such an exceptional person and a true friend to so many of you reading this. The Montana community lost one of the building blocks of what this state has become and the influence of his commitment put more in than he took out. I, and so many of you have had the gift of his time. It is the most cherished possession I have from him and one I continue to learn from as I recall this loss.
Celebrate him as he crosses over and remember the friendships he left behind.
LD, what more can I say than thank you for being a part of it all.
John & Cherie Dahl says
Loren was a friend and mentor from our Jaycee days. What an asset he was to the Helena community and many relatives and friends. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family 🙏🙏🙏
Terry Harris says
Sorry to hear of Loren’s passing. He was a good friend and a good competitor as noted we started the Montana Office Machine Dealers together. We were in Jaycees and the Helena Lions Club also. RIP my friend.
john & steph hekkel says
we are so sorry to hear of loren’s passing. i have never a more distinguished, hard working, loyal person in my life. the years of loren stopping in anaconda telling us stories and giving us lessons in business will never be forgotten. thank you and rest in peace my freind.
Gary G says
Loren Davis was truly an inspiration to those who were lucky enough to have met him. I worked for Loren for several years and was always struck by the respectful and thoughtful way he conducted himself. He was a generous employer, and a generous man to those in need. Truly an icon in Montana who influenced generations with his humbleness and generous nature.
Ginger Allen says
I am so sorry to hear this sad news…one of the kindest persons.. I always enjoyed planning Konica programs where he would attend, be kind and full of grace. Rest in peace my friend, you will never be forgotten. 🙏❤️
Don Betts says
Loren was a wonderful person to know. He helped me as we started a new business and continued to be an asset as our business grew. Always kind and happy to share a beer whenever we crossed paths. Helena has lost one of its most valuable and charming citizens.
Todd Foote says
As like many of you I feel very blessed to have known and spent time with Loren. He brought many memories and happy moments into my life as well as countless others. The world was a better place with him in it. I will miss him especially is welcome smile.
Denise Blackwell Burns says
Loren, you will be missed by so many. You brought joy and laughter to every event. I will miss stealing your cowboy hat, and you won’t ever be forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.
Bobby and Cathie Best says
Loren and Judy G. were our travel friends. We sure logged in some miles; land, sea and air and enjoyed great adventures. We still love the happy memories and are grateful for them. Loren was a true gentleman, confident in a small road side bar or a fancy ballroom. He traveled life with self assurance in his cowboy hat and boots and the most wonderful smile. His kindness and generous spirit will always be remembered. God bless you Loren.
Kimmy Skiftun says
Loren, you where the BEST!!! Never forget you.
Jay Martinsen says
Sorry I missed the service. Loren hired me in June 2010, it was the first job I got in my field after graduating from The Helena College of Technology in 2002 with an Electronics Degree. At the time I was unemployed, my first child was born just a few months earlier and Loren gave me my first big break. When he hired me I started crying with joy, I was so grateful. Loren was a great man, he treated me and my family very well over the next 3 years I was employed with him. He knew my grandpa Norman Brighton and his good friend Wes Synness well, he said to watch out for those 2 when they got together 🙂 they liked to have a lot of fun! I will miss Loren, he has done a lot of great things for the city of Helena and the State of Montana. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Loren Davis, a successful IT and cyber security specialist. He gave me a chance and I will remember him for the rest of my life for it. Thank you!!
Paul Cohen says
I worked for Loren for several years in the Helena office. He took a flyer on me as an unproven commodity in the sales field and it paid off for both of us. He was easy to work for – gave good direction and also room to grow. He knew how to balance things. I learned a lot from him without it looking like he was teaching. He just had that old-time common sense and practical experience dealing with people and machines. Loren was the real deal. I’m thankful to have known and worked for him.