Loren Bennett Means

Loren Bennett Means, age 91, died July 28, 2026. He was born to William B. Means and Viola A. (Friederich) Means in Omaha, Nebraska. The family spent WWII in California before returning to Omaha in 1950, where Loren graduated from high school while working as a fry cook in a short-order restaurant.

He worked briefly for the Union Pacific Railroad before enlisting in the United States Air Force with his friend Roger Gearhart. While in the service, he met and married Evelyn Notman, and together they welcomed three children, Kevin, Scott and Lori. After a year-long tour in Korea, Loren became an instructor at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Upon his military discharge, Loren joined his uncle in the construction business while attending night school at the University of Omaha.

After graduation with a degree in Business Administration, he worked as a mortgage banker until 1972, when the family moved to the Washington, D.C. area. Loren joined the Federal Home Loan Bank Board as Deputy Director of the office of FSLIC. He served as Director for 22 months. Loren left government service to become President and CEO of Depositors Savings in Jackson, Mississippi.

In 1982, he and his second wife, Linda Nash, moved to Vancouver, Washington, where Loren accepted the position of President and CEO at Vancouver Federal Savings Bank (VANFED). He served in some capacity with organizations such as the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Clark College Foundation, United Way Campaign, and the Washington Savings League. Loren was appointed as Chairman of Citizen’s Savings of Salem, Oregon, which was in receivership by the Federal Home Loan Bank. In 1985 was named Man of the Year by Rho Epsilon Professional Real Estate Fraternity.

Loren and Linda made their home in Vancouver until his retirement in 1991. At that time, they split their time between Anacortes, Washington and Linda’s beloved family home in El Dorado, Arkansas, ultimately settling in Anacortes and Peoria, Arizona. They pursued a common passion for foreign travel, traveling to six of the seven continents during their travels over the years, with Antarctica being the only one they missed. Loren became an avid fan of the Seattle Mariners and a season ticket holder to the spring training camp games in Peoria.

Loren is preceded in death by his parents and his two wives. He is survived by sons Kevin (Ann) Means and Scott (Jenni) Means and daughter Lori (Randy) Arnold, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two sisters, Priscilla Powell of Omaha, Nebraska and Jeannine Wriedt of Wayne, Nebraska and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Young’s Funeral Directors of El Dorado, Arkansas. Private interment will be held on August 15th, 2026, at Smyrna Cemetery where Loren served on the Board of Trustees for several years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Smyrna Cemetery, ℅ Tommy Mattox, 842 Iron Mountain Road, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.youngsfuneralhome.com