Nile Alma Sorenson, Jr.

Nile Alma Sorenson, Jr., beloved husband, Dad, Grandpa and friend, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2021, surrounded by his family in Orange, CA.  He was born on December 4, 1948, in Brigham City, Utah to Nile Alma Sorenson and Charlene Wight Sorenson.

He married Breta Wilkerson on June 15, 1973, in the Los Angeles Temple and to their home came five children. He was a devoted father, who loved having fun with his children by camping excursions to Joshua Tree National Park, Yosemite National Park, and any other place where he could set up a tent and have a fire.  In the later years of Nile’s life, he relished the role of Grandpa, playing “Engine, Engine Number Nine”, orchestrating hikes to the nearby “Secret Forest”, and so much more, culminating in a grand family reunion of his posterity to Yosemite National Park in 2019.  Just recently he loved being called “Huppa” by his nearly two-year-old granddaughter.

Nile, a graduate of Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, later earned a Doctorate of Medical Dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania and furthering his education by attending the University of Southern California where he received a Certificate in Orthodontics.

Nile’s Professional Organizations include American Board of Orthodontics, American Association of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, California State Society of Orthodontists, and rounding those out, the prestigious Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists Chapter President of his local component as well as many years serving as the Executive Secretary.

Nile was an accomplished mountaineer, dedicating his life to being the “best trained mountaineer” in the state.  Currently his climbing resume numbers well over four hundred peaks in many states and throughout the world.  “These climbs would include snow climbs, glacier travel and rock faces.”  Although she did not climb with him, Breta accompanied Nile to Zermatt, Switzerland for his climb of the Matterhorn, with a few of his climbing friends, and summited on July 12, 2018.  It was while on this climb that he noticed his energy level was off, foreboding his later medical problems, which would eventually end his life.

With all his accomplishments in life, there was one that was his quiet passion, his devotion to his religious faith.  He was a man of sound understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He loved the Savior. He hungrily read and studied the scriptures, earning the title of Scriptorian - one who studied and followed the teachings of the scriptures.

He is survived by his wife, Breta Wilkerson Sorenson, his five children, Eric (Angela) Sorenson, Emily (Ryan) Parker, Katherine (Wes) Tackett, Rachel (Nathan) Culmer and Mary (Patrick) Mulroney and ten grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 8:30 A.M. to 9:45 AM on October 16, 2021, with the Funeral service at 10 A.M. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 17130 Bastanchury Road, Yorba Linda, CA.

Interment at Loma Vista Memorial Park located at 701 East Bastanchury Rd., Fullerton, CA.