Dorothy May (Hilty) Denning, born in Payette, Idaho, on March 2, 1925, to Jesse (Jess) Edwin Hilty and Pearl Nola Baker Hilty, passed away on September 20, 2026, in Kennewick, WA.

Dorothy graduated from Burley High School, Idaho, in 1943 and attended the College of Southern Idaho. She married Harlan Laverne Denning on November 10, 1945, in Nampa, Idaho. They were married for 71 years. Dorothy was a loving wife and mother, who put high value on family.

Dorothy and Harlan lived in various places, starting their family in San Leandro, CA, and residing in southern Idaho, Othello, WA, and finally in the Tri-Cities, WA area.

Dorothy was a woman of faith. She was a member of Kennewick First Presbyterian Church, and upon moving to Meadow Springs in Richland, she and Harlan became members of Meadow Springs Presbyterian Church. For many years she helped organize and worked the annual rummage sale at Meadow Springs Presbyterian.

Dorothy was involved in the Othello Theater Guild, participating in, directing and contributing to their plays. She was honored with awards for her service to the guild. After moving to Tri-Cities, she worked for several years at Robinson’s clothing store in downtown Richland.

Dorothy was a Camp Fire Girls leader. She was member of the Tri-Cities Cancer Guild; a life member of Beta Sigma Phi, and a member of the International P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter HQ, Kennewick, an international organization providing scholarships to women.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harlan Laverne Denning, her daughters Gail Allison Denning, and Ann Katherine Denning Esparza. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Gerald (Violeta) Hilty, Katherine (Harry) Kinney, Ed (Leta) Hilty and grandson Michael James Esparza.

She is survived by her sons James (Colleen) and Brian (Amy), son-in-law Joe Esparza, as well as grandchildren, Nathan (Emily) Esparza, Laura (Travis Hathaway) Denning, Devin (Melinda) Denning, Taryn Denning Walker, Christina (Mike) Thomas, Joe (Michele) Jensen, and Eric (Tara) Esparza; great granddaughter London Ann Esparza and great grandsons Emmett and Huxley Hathaway. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Violeta Hilty, as well as two beloved nieces Susan (Davidson) Wood and Kathleen (Peter) Mantle.

Our memories of our wonderful mother, best-ever mother-in-law, and loving caring grandmother, will be with us always, as Dorothy now rests with our Heavenly Father and rejoins family in the hereafter. With love and prayers we say goodbye and God Bless.