Dorothy Delight Thornton (Duerst) was born July 5, 1936 to Bus and Phyllis Duerst in Foster, NE. She was the oldest of 5 siblings, Carolyn, Don, Harriet and Terry. They farmed and had dairy cows in Nebraska and Missouri. She married Charles Thornton in a double ceremony with her sister Carolyn in 1956. Sometime later they moved to her Arizona and raised four children Debbie, Keith, Greg and Chuck. Dorothy did data entry most of her life and was a very loyal and hard worker.

She fell in love with the small farming community of Burlington, CO after numerous visits with relatives. Evidently deciding to make it her home. That was 20 years ago.

She was incredibly generous, thoughtful, and kind. Dorothy loved and appreciated our military which was evident in the over 700 boxes she sent to our troops overseas through anysoldier.com. Paying for the contents, shipping and packing them herself.

In her last years she lived with her daughter in Burlington. As her sight deteriorated, she began listening to audio books. About 15-20 a week. A simple pleasure.

She passed on March 26, 2025 after a fall.

Dorothy is proceeded in death by her husband Charles, son Greg, son-in-law Ron Gutierrez, sister Carolyn Payne and brothers Don and Terry Duerst.

Survived by daughter Deb Gutierrez (Ezra and Seth), son Keith, daughter-in-law Georgia and son Alex, son Chuck and wife Tammie (Justin and wife Brittney, Jackson and Lilianna), Dylan, Bradley Steinbauer and wife Lauren (DiAnna, Amelia, and Dean) and Brittney Steinbauer. . Her sister Harriet (Bob) Stelter, her sisters-in-law Linda and Bonnie Duerst.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Military Tribute Banner Program through Prairie Cultural Revitalization P.O. Box 754 Burlington, CO 80807.

A private inurnment is being planned in Arizona at a later date. 

https://militarytributebanners.org/col.../burlington-co.html