Dena Lanning

Dena Lanning was born Dena Ellen Thurlow in Cherokee, Ok on October 22, 1952. Her parents Joe Thurlow and JoEllen Thurlow (aka Bockie) had four children. Dena was the oldest and the only girl. Growing up, Dena was a tom boy, loved to dance and was very social. After graduating from high school, her father took a job as the music teacher in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Dena said one time she never understood the need for lotion until she moved to Pine Bluffs. She may have added lotion, but it was difficult to dampen that southern drawl.

Dena married Mark Lanning at the age of 23 on March 19, 1976. The...