Delores Levinsky

Delores Levinsky (86) passed away in Polson, MT, on July 5, 2016, with her daughter Marie by her side. Delores was born March 5, 1930 in Salt Lake City Utah. She was the third of five children.

Delores went to work as a very young child scrubbing porch steps in San Francisco, CA. She felt loved and supported by her Aunt Gladys as she grew up. Delores married and had three children. Later, as a single working mother, she fulfilled two personal dreams and despite having never graduated from high school, she put herself through college, earning her AA from Mesa College, Grand Junction, CO, 1962, her BA from California State College, Long Beach, CA, 1969, and her graduate Certificate in Social Services from University of California, Los Angeles, 1970. She always wanted a college degree and to be a social worker. She even became a County Director.

Delores was a fun-loving, intelligent, humorous, strong and warm woman. In her younger years she played the piano well and had a beautiful singing voice. She had a dramatic flair and starred in several plays. She cared deeply about goodness and fairness, and as long as she was able, she strived to make the world a better place.

As her final adventure she traveled by train at the age of 80 from Gilroy, CA to the Flathead Reservation to be with her daughter Marie. As her body and mind weakened, she continued to love listening to Pavarotti’s recordings, seeing horses and mountains, and telling stories of her life.

She is survived by her daughter, G. Marie May of Ronan, MT, and her son, Paul D. Thornhill (Marilyn) of Austin, TX, along with Paul’s two children, Emily Thornhill and Robyn Bandy (Casey) and Robyn’s son Cole.
Delores was preceded in death by many others, including her beloved daughter Molly E. Thornhill, Kenna C. Slater (mother), Dewey Oswald (father), Gladys Sargent (aunt), and sisters Nadine Baxter and Laura Pack.

At her request, her body will be cremated and her ashes scattered over Grand Mesa National Park, CO, just as her daughter Molly’s were. Marie May will be holding a small private service at a later date and asks that you contact her directly if you wish. In honor of her mother she asks that donations be made to Special Olympics at https://donate.specialolympics.org. Delores had a very personal commitment to children and adults with intellectual disabilities.