Clifford "Cliff" Lewis Burke Jr.

Clifford “Cliff” Lewis Burke Jr. passed away at the age of 75 on February 21st, 2017 at St. Patrick House in Missoula, MT due to complications of the aortic heart valve. Cliff was born on February 6th, 1942 to parents Clifford L. and Mary A. (Ennis) Burke in Boston, MA. Following his graduation from Agua Fria Union High School in Avondale, AZ, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard where he served his country for four years. Upon his return to AZ, Cliff married and began his work for Lockheed Aircraft at Luke AFB. He concurrently attended Phoenix College, majoring in psychology, while also raising his two children Craig and Debra Burke. Later, he went to work as an electrician for White Mountain Pulp and Paper Mill located in Showlow, AZ.



On March 17th, 1978 Cliff was married to his wife Betty and pursued a career as a Q.C. Inspector for power generating stations in WA, WY, MO, NV, and UT. In 1993, he and his family moved to Montana, the state he loved, where he enjoyed his passion of the outdoors, hunting, fishing, trapping, and participating in rendezvous. In 1994, he began his own electrical contracting business in Gallatin Gateway, MT.



Cliff was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Debra Burke. He is survived by his wife Betty of Gallatin Gateway, MT; son Craig (Nancy) Burke of Pueblo, CO; son Ridge (Carrie) Burke of Ennis, MT; daughter Tevlin Burke of Gallatin Gateway, MT; brother Joseph (Elizabeth) Burke of Flagstaff, AZ; brother Gary Burke of Richland, WA; sister Deborah Burke of Richland, WA; sister Kathy Burke of Richland, WA; four nieces and one nephew; eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.



A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 18th at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bozeman, MT. Interment of his urn will follow at a later date.