Donald Allen Gorton, 73, passed away Tuesday, September 10, 2013, following a long, courageous, fight with cancer.

Don was born March 5, 1940, at home, in Squirrel, Idaho to Floyd W. and Renee C. House Gorton. He grew up in Lamont where his family farmed. He graduated from North Fremont High School in 1958.

Don enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in 1958. He trained at the MCRD in San Diego, California and served in Okinawa; London; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Vietnam; Parris Island, South Carolina; Pensacola, Florida, and Camp Pendleton, California, where he retired in August of 1978.

On February 14, 1962 he married Rosalind Mary Fenton in St. Anthony, Idaho. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple the 17th of June 1970.

He returned to Idaho and settled in Teton City, where he lived the rest of his life.

He received his Associates Degree from Pensacola Jr. College and his Bachelor and Master's Degree from Idaho State University. In 1983, Don earned his Social Work license, and was employed at the Juvenile Correction Center in St. Anthony from 1979 until he retired in 2010. He also worked part-time at Hathaway Construction for several years.

Don was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1961 and was an active member and served in many capacities.

He enjoyed fixing things, going on drives and visiting his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Rosalind; children, Monique (Bart) Riley, of Lyman, Celeste Tonks of Sugar City, Russel Gorton of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Erin (Zack) Bowen of Henderson, Nevada; grandchildren, Blake (Anjanette) Riley, Beth (Christopher) Maybee, McKay Riley, Amy, Laura, Kaitlyn, Nathan and Mathew Tonks, and Will Bowen; one great grandson, Parker Maybee; and siblings, Gary Gorton of Grants Pass, Oregon, Jeri Morgan of Priest River, Idaho, and Shae Matrix of Kingman, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents and two baby brothers.


Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Teton LDS Chapel ( 44 W. Main, Teton City, Idaho) with Bishop Craig Carter of the Teton 2nd Ward officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Bert Flamm Mortuary (581 E. 1st N., St. Anthony) and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow at the Teton-Newdale Cemetery where military rites will be performed.

The family suggests donations to the Huntsman Cancer Institute at http://www.huntsmancancer.org/giving/huntsman-cancer-foundation/donate-online or the Perpetual Education Fund at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 50 North East Temple, Room 1521, Salt Lake City, Utah.