Dorene Ann Gentry, 82, of Custer, SD, passed away September 29, 2024, at Custer Care and Rehab in Custer, SD.  Dorene was born October 21, 1941, in Beloit, KS, to Leo and Louise (Bruggeman) Nible.  She attended St. John's Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduated from high school in Great Bend, KS in 1959.

Dorene worked at St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend for three years and then moved to Salina, KS to work at Asbury Hospital for a year when she met Don Gentry who was stationed at the Air Force Base in Salina.  Dorene and Don were married in June of 1963 and in that union she was blessed with four children, Teresa, Mike, Michaelle and Wendy.   They divorced in 1970 and she moved to Boulder, CO and worked at the College Conference Center for 6 years. She worked two years at the Elks Lodge in Boulder.  While in Boulder, she met Ken Granger and they started living together in 1975.  In 1978, they moved to Longmont, CO, where Ken had a towing and salvage business.   In 1993 they moved to Custer, SD and Dorene resided in Custer ever since. Ken and Dorene were together 35 years until Ken passed away December 19, 2010.

Dorene liked to make afghans in the winter and she gave them away to family and friends.  She loved her four kids, her grand kids and her great grand kids.

Dorene is survived by her children, Teresa Dike; Mike (Brenda) Gentry; Michaelle (Randy) Perdue; Wendy Gentry; Trina (Jeremy) West; sisters, Doris Mooneyham; Betty Sforzini; grandchildren, Josh Gentry; Natasha Ufen; James Abbott; Benjamin Perdue; Scott Perdue; Britini Gentry and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Leo and Louise Nible; her partner, Ken Granger and her grandson, Lance Gentry.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday October 12, 2024, at Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer, SD followed by committal services at the Custer Cemetery in Custer, SD. Please dress casually.