Don was born on October 17, 1923, in Seattle, WA and died peacefully in his sleep on January 23, 2010, in Spokane, WA. Don was raised on the family ranch in the Del Rio area, between Bridgeport and Grand Coulee, WA. He graduated from high school in Coulee City. His early career was spent farming, in partnership with his dad, Albin and brother, Cecil. In February 1948, Don married the love of his life, Jean Brace, in Electric City, WA. They moved to Coulee Dam in 1958, where Don worked for the City of Coulee Dam, retiring in 1986, as the City Superintendent. Don was also a Volunteer Fireman for the town of Coulee Dam. Don and Jean had 51 wonderful years together, until Jean passed away in December 2001. Since 2002, Don spent his summers in Coulee Dam and his winters as a "snowbird" in Quartzite, AZ. In Quartzite, he lived near his sister and brother-in-law, Rex and Teddy Hainline of Sprague, WA and enjoyed life with his close companion, Marie Fesler of Quartzite. Don loved boating on Banks Lake and Lake Roosevelt and working in his garden to raise a variety of garden vegetables and the best raspberries imaginable. He was a part of the "lunch bunch" at Flo's Cafe´ in Grand Coulee, WA.

Don was the son of Albin and Josephine Thoren and had seven brothers and sisters, Rosie, Harold, Cecil, Gennie, Edward, Frances and Teddy. Two of his sisters, Frances Culver of Spokane, WA and Teddy Hainline of Sprague, WA, survive him. Don is also survived by his two sons, Terry Thoren (Diane) and Rick Thoren, all of Spokane, WA. He has four grandchildren, Julie Brown (Jodi) of Hailey, ID, Denise Materne (Brock) of Spokane, WA, Laura Thoren of Seattle, WA and Patrick Thoren (Kerry) of Tenino, WA. Don also has five great-grandchildren, Zachary and McKenzie Brown, Colton and Avery Materne and Holly Thoren, with another great-grandchild on the way.

A Visitation for Don will be held at Strate Funeral Home, 329 East Grand Coulee Avenue, Grand Coulee, WA, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2010, and from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2010. Funeral Services will also be held at Strate Funeral Home in Grand Coulee, on Saturday, January 30, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. Graveside Services will follow at the Spring Canyon Cemetery, in Grand Coulee. Memorials may be made in Don's honor to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 1332 N. Halsted, Suite 201, Chicago, IL 60642. Arrangements by Strate Funeral Home, Grand Coulee, WA.