Don Clarence Burningham

At the age of 95, Don C. Burningham passed away on June 8, 2022. Born to Clarence Burningham and Alberta Pack on September 6, 1926 in Coalville, Utah, Don and his younger sister, Merlene, moved frequently (their dad worked as an engineer on various western dam projects) and learned words and counting before attending school (their mom was a teacher). As a teenager in Coulee Dam, WA, Don enjoyed Scouting and always felt “indebted for the skills and values” he learned through these adventures. It is fitting that all his sons and sons-in-law are Eagle Scouts.

After graduating from Shasta High School in 1944, Don applied his early experiences and training while serving in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician (1944-1946), studying Civil Engineering at the University of Utah (class of 1952), surveying in Oregon in the summers, socializing with the Gamma chapter of the LDS Institute, and serving an LDS mission in the Texas-Louisiana Mission (1949-1951). Like his father, Don worked as a civil engineer, first employed by the city of Bountiful and later by the Utah Department of Transportation.

In January of 1952, Don had his first date with Jane Steenblik, the brunette from Institute class, and they married in the Logan Temple on July 31, 1953. Together they built a home in Bountiful, socialized and traveled with their study-group friends, camped, served in several church callings, and taught six children “skills, hard work, honesty, a knowledge of the gospel, and individuality.” Jane passed away from cancer in December of 1974. Three years after her passing, one of Jane’s brothers and one of her sisters introduced Don to Ann Bruton, a member of their ward in Salt Lake City. Don and Ann became engaged at a Utah-Wyoming football game later that year and they married in the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 1978. Together they completed a mission as employment specialists, traveled, fulfilled many church callings, served neighbors, and welcomed six in-laws and 28 grandchildren.

Don enjoyed being in nature, trips to the hardware store, teaching of Jesus Christ, visiting family, wood working, helping neighbors, wearing plaid shirts, learning new skills, growing peaches, and each of his 60 great-grandchildren. As a proper tribute to his Scouting roots, Don planned camping and backpacking trips with his family, roped the canoes he built with Glen and Dale to top of the family station wagon for a day out fishing, and volunteered with the Boy Scouts. He learned to make rocking chairs for his grandchildren and daughters, music boxes, grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, and even replicated antique furniture which is currently used at This Is The Place Heritage Park. Most treasured of all are the lasting values he pursued consistently throughout his life: education, hard work, serving family, and following Jesus Christ.

Don is survived by his six children, Glen (Lauren), Dale (Janeel), Paul (Chris), Sandi (Dave), Mark (Shelly), and Lisa (Wick), 27 grandchildren, and 60 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Jane, Ann, and granddaughter Micahlie Balling.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at the Bountiful Tabernacle located at 55 N. Main St., Bountiful, Utah with a viewing from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. prior to services. There will also be a viewing on Tuesday, June 28th from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main St. in Bountiful, Utah.  Interment- Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.