William H. Burton

William H. Burton of Cambridge, died on Friday, February 18th, 2022 at Cambridge Medical Center at the age of 85.

He was born on December 9th, 1936, to Paul and Mable (Carlson) Burton in Minneapolis, MN.

Besides his parents Bill was preceded in death by wife Ruth in 1996, daughter Kerry Burton 1980 and son Eric Burton 2017.

William/Bill attended and graduated from South High School, he also attended the University of Minnesota with double majors in Math and Chemistry.

He married Ruth Chader on December 21st, 1957. They made their first home in Minnetonka and raised 4 children, Eric, Erica, Kerry, and Alan.  The family moved to Long Lake in 1969.

Bill’s occupation was a self-employed construction/home builder.  He built many new single-family houses in the western suburbs.  He was skilled at carpentry and finishing work. He had Eric and Alan assist him. 

Bill volunteered at numerous nursing homes for decades. He played his tenor saxophone solo or with Church and Family members.  Bill loved hymns and the old traditional songs.

Bill was very active in sports, he participated in basketball, soft ball, and bowling leagues.  He also spent hundreds of hours playing one on one basketball with his sons Eric and Alan in the neighborhood park.  Bill had a passion/obsession for playing card games.  He played poker with our cousin Don and friends, Steve, Jim and Larry for 50+ years. card games with themselves and friends several nights a week. For the past several years Bill volunteered playing cards and games with the people at GracePoint nursing home in Cambridge.

Bill married Sylvia Vavra on February 14th, 1998.  They spent their retirement years, traveling, and watching the grandchildren’s basketball and football sporting events.  

Bill is survived by his wife Sylvia Vavra-Burton, daughter Erica (Blake) Severin of Independence, son Alan (Susan) Burton of Minnetonka, daughter-in-law Karen Burton of Red Wing, five grandchildren, Rachel Williams, Peter Burton, Chader Burton, Madeline Burton, and Zachary Burton, great grandchildren Christian and Bentley, step children Randy (Karen) Vavra of Byron, IL, Roger (Kelly) Vavra of Cambridge, Sandy (Jason) Abraham of Cambridge, Russ (Amy) Vavra of Cambridge, 22 step grandchildren, 15 step great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service, will be held at First Baptist Church in Cambridge, MN on Saturday, March 26th, 2022, visitation 10:00am, and celebration at 11:00am. Pastor Jared Gustafson officiating.

Urn Bearers are Peter Burton and Chader Burton, grandchildren

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