Sandra Ina Hinsen

Sandra Ina Hinsen passed away April 12, 2019 at the age of 93. She was born October 21, 1926 in Missoula to Robert Bruce Pritchard and Diane LaMorala Schwartz Pritchard. Sandra was one of 11 children. She spent her childhood in Missoula. On Halloween of 1941, Sandra met the love of her life, Wilbur Hinsen at the roller rink in Missoula. Wilbur fell in love with her immediately and knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with that beautiful young lady. They were married shortly after. Wilbur swooped her off to start their life in Bozeman, but not before he bought her the first store bought dress she ever owned. Their life together was full of ups and downs, but they always stuck together. They built all the homes they lived in together, even the last home they shared in Deer Lodge. Sandra worked side by side with Wilbur as much as she could during all the construction. Sandra worked at F.W. Woolworths for over 20 years in Bozeman. She left Woolworths to start a business of her own with Wilbur. Sandra and Wilbur opened the Bozeman Coin Shop and worked together every day until they retired. Wilbur would leave early every morning to open the shop and Sandra would walk the six blocks to the shop later. During the time that they ran the coin business they traveled all around the United States. Sandra loved to travel. Sandra and Wilbur had four children together, Leonard Bruce, Penelope Linda, Lonnie Paul and Sheila Marie. She raised her children in Opportunity and Bozeman. From her children she was blessed with eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. As one of those grandkids, I remember spending time with Gramma. My favorite memory is roller skating with her and Grampa at the rink in Bozeman. Sandra and Wilbur would go to the rink every weekend and skate together. Reminiscing of the night they first met, Sandra and Wilbur would skate hand in hand around the rink in perfect rhythm together. I always believed I had the coolest grandparents ever. Gramma spent a lot of time teaching us kids how to skate backwards. Sandra is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Diane Pritchard; husband, Wilbur Hinsen; brothers and sisters, Puss, Sherman, Bobby, Fritz, Jerry, Bylo, Dicky and Tommy and her two sons, Leonard and Lonnie. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Penny and Clint Roy and Sheila and Dan Jones; her brothers Tootie and Bingo and many grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Sandra was greatly loved and will be deeply missed. Graveside services will be held April 27 at 11 a.m. with reception immediately following at the Community Center.

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Sandra Ina Hinsen

October 21, 1926 - April 12, 2019