02-02-2011 Obituaries

Alan Clarence Sorenson

1949 - 2011

Alan Clarence Sorenson passed away Jan. 26 at Barrett Hospital and Healthcare in Dillon at age 61.

He was born on July 23, 1949, to Clarence and Theresa (Smith) Sorenson, and lived his entire life in Dillon. He graduated from Mary Innes, Bagley, and Beaverhead High Schools, and attended Western Normal College for a short time. He then worked for Howard Motors as a mechanic for seven years followed by three years at Pfizer Minerals in plant maintenance. At Howard Motors, his boss Jack Howard became a lifelong friend who supported Alan throughout his life.

Alan was born with Type I Diabetes, and suffered debilitating medical problems his whole life, including losing most of his sight in both eyes, and loss of both kidneys while in his 20s and 30s. He received a donor kidney in 1987, and bragged often that under the critical care of his mother Theresa, and his own knowledge of diabetes, the kidney worked well for over twenty years. Alan believed he was a world record holder in sustaining a transplanted kidney.

In his early years, Alan hand-built a Model-T roadster that was the envy of Dillon, and still remains in his collection. He also developed classic cars including a 1968 Corvette and a 1967 CJ-5 Jeep, which were eventually sold to car collectors. Alan also had a great sense for commodity markets, and in later years earned his living trading commodities.

Alan’s greatest love was fixing up his and his mother’s house. When he was eight years old he told his mother and dad that he was going to someday own the house down the street that had a big S on the chimney. In 2001 that prediction came true when he and his mother bought the house, and started a long series of improvements designed and directed by Alan.

Alan’s father, Stub, preceded him in death in 1997, and his mother, Theresa, is still going strong at age 91.

Alan is survived by his uncle, Earl Smith, and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Texas; and his uncle, Herb and aunt Betsy Smith, and their children and grandchildren in Colorado. He also has cousins in California as well as cousins in Dillon, Jerry Spehar, Ruth Sorenson, Margaret Curtis, Barbara Delano, Donna Nolte, Becky Usford, Clifford Reid, Tom Reid and Douglas Reid.

At Alan’s request there will not be formal services.