Donald Kortes was born in Hanna, in 1917, to Andrew and Inez Kortes. He grew up on the family’s Black Canyon Ranch north of Hanna in the area known as Leo. As a young man he worked on the Buzzard Ranch and then went to work for Gus Nelson on the Lost Creek Ranch in 1936. Dorothy Lemione Kortes was born in Connecticut to George and Delia Lemione. Her family moved first to a ranch near Saratoga and then to a ranch near Leo. When they arrived at that ranch Dorothy (age of eight) was driving the wagon. Don and Dorothy were married in 1940 and lived in a one room cabin on the Lost Creek Ranch. The cabin is still there today. They raised their daughter Darlene on this ranch. They bought the Lost Creek Ranch in 1951 and lived their entire lives on it. Together they raised Quarter Horses and cattle. They truly loved their horses and always had a stud and broodmares. Don trained and raced horses. He also calf roped at local rodeos and Dorothy barrel raced. Don was an active member in the Farm Bureau. He served as the Carbon County Farm Bureau president for many years. Don and Dorothy worked side by side, day in and day out together on their ranch. Dorothy would work outside during the day, come in and cook a good meal, then go back out to do whatever needed done. Dorothy would mow and rake hay in the hayfield.
Donald & Dorothy Kortes
