Steven Lee Burton

Steven Lee Burton, our beloved father, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully on July 12, 2022 after a long battle with cancer.

Steve was born on December 8, 1951 in Price, Utah to Lee Clark and Mildred Jones Burton. He loved to visit his grandparents in Nephi, where he not only gained a love of Juab County, but also taking care of animals. He loved to attend the Ute Stampede and didn’t miss many. As a child, he enjoyed going on camping trips, spending time with the Jones cousins and raising homing pigeons. His life growing up was always an adventure. He also spent summers in Logan helping Uncle Richard and learning even more about what it meant to work. He graduated from Olympus High School and attended Utah State University. After a year at Utah State, he was called to serve in the Germany South Mission. He returned home after completing his mission and changed his major from Biology to Political Science.

Steve had such an analytical mind which made data analysis easy for him. He worked for Dan Jones which grew into his first full-time job of researching and predicting public opinions even being featured on KSL Channel 5 on election nights. Steve, then started his own market research company, Advanced Market Research. Smith’s Food and Drug was one of his clients and after some discussion, he went to direct their consumer research department. He worked at Smith’s for 30 years and retired as the Vice President of Consumer Research performing customer research for not only Smith’s, but the Kroger Company of stores in Utah and other states.

Steve married Sandra Jensen Burton on June 12, 1974 in the Salt Lake Temple. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many capacities. He served in the Young Men’s organization, as a Gospel Doctrine Teacher, a High Council Member as well as being a member of several bishoprics. His favorite calling was serving in the Young Single Adult Ward Bishopric helping to guide the Young Single Adults. Steve and Sandra enjoyed serving as temple workers in both the Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain Temples where they made many dear friends.

Steve was very dedicated to his family. Steve and Sandra were always together and made a great team. They would even plan their cancer appointments together. They built their life in West Jordan and later in Levan. Steve loved Juab County and animals so much from his youth that he wanted to move to Levan full time, finally realizing that dream in 2020. They would travel to Levan every weekend for almost 25 years.They raised lambs, goats and worked in the garden outside together, creating Levan Ridge Farms.

Steve and Sandra loved to be involved and serve. One of their favorite highlights was to host annual Christmas dinners for the older single neighbors in the West Jordan Ward, showing off his amazing cooking talents. Breakfasts and dinners will never be the same again. He also was a major proponent of the East African Refugee Goat Project and has been instrumental in helping it flourish. He made many friends within that organization and valued their interactions. He also had the pleasure of serving on the Salt Lake County Fair Board, Utah Woolgrower’s Association Board and the Utah Sheep Board.

He loved his children and his grandchildren more than anything else. He attended everything, dance recitals, piano recitals, sporting events. The one event he loved attending most was livestock shows to watch his grandchildren show goats, lambs and hogs. He was their biggest fan and supporter. He also loved to work on projects with them. Assisting them in designing, editing and perfecting projects was one of his greatest talents.

He is survived by his children, Sonja (Oscar) and Jonathan (Andrea) as well as his grandchildren, Miranda Ferrufino, JaLeigh Burton, Rowen Ferrufino, Emma Burton and Andilyn Burton; sister, Kathy Richter (Bill) and brother, Lynn Burton (Venna); many nieces and a nephew who loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra and his parents.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Scott Samuelson and to Dr. Christian Barney, for their skill and dedication to both Steve and Sandra. The trusted nurses and caregivers at Utah Cancer Specialists continue to be second to none. We also appreciate Julianne Parkin from Central Valley Home and Hospice for helping us care for our dad during this time.

Services will be held on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at noon at the Levan 2nd Ward Chapel, 25 N. 100 E. in Levan, Utah. A viewing will be held on Monday, July 18, 2022 from 6-8 pm at the Anderson Funeral Home, 94 W. 300 N., Nephi, Utah and before funeral services from 10:30-11:30 am at the Levan 2nd Ward Chapel in Levan, Utah. Steve will be interred at the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi, Utah following the service.

Since education and agriculture are important to both our parents, in lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation to the Steve and Sandra Burton Agricultural Excellence Scholarship at Mountain America Credit Union. This is for graduating high school students excelling in the field of agriculture.

The service will be livestreamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/
(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)





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