Dorene (Bette Dorene Holt) Thornton was born on Halloween night 1932 in the town of Aberdeen, Idaho.  She was the first of three girls of Jesse Duane Holt and Mary Janette Taggart. Eilene was the second daughter. Dorene’s father Jesse was killed in a hunting accident while her mother was pregnant with the last of the three girls, Jessie, so named in honor of her father. Later while Dorene was a senior in high school, her mother married Levi Walker and Dorene would have a little brother, Robert, who turned out to be not so little.

Dorene married Miral Walker Thornton on January 10, 1951 in the Idaho Falls Temple and together they have six children, Jan, Lynn, Kristie, Shaun, Lisa and Tami. Dorene worked at Faldmo Tours as a travel agent for 25 years.  Her remarkable musical gifts (beautiful voice and plays the piano by ear) and other many talents, as well as her generosity and wisdom have blessed the lives of her family and friends. Her bright, positive attitude is infectious. She is the glue that binds her family. She is her family’s beacon of faith and virtue.

Dorene is the grandmother of 26 grandchildren and is affectionately referred to as “GiGi” by her 32 great grandchildren.  The family will celebrate Dorene’s 80th birthday at an open house from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 3 at the home of Dennis and Jan James, 86 Viewcrest Dr., Bountiful. Anyone is welcome to stop by and say “Happy Birthday.”