Thomas Ray Burgener 

(June 19, 1940 - July 20, 2021)

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Thomas Ray Burgener returned to his heavenly father on July 20, 2021, after an extended battle with Lewy body dementia with his family by his side. Tom was 81.  

Tom was born in Powell to Albert and Lottie (Moore) Burgener on June 19, 1940, the eighth of nine children. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Powell High School. He served in the military for a short time before pursuing his lifetime career as a truck driver. 

On Aug. 25, 1962, he married Carolyn Jackson. The marriage was later solemnized in the Manti temple. Tom and Carolyn made their home in Cody; Powell; Glendive, Montana; Winkelman, Arizona; and for the last 35 years, Elizabeth, Colorado. 

Tom was a hard worker and had great self-discipline. As a truck driver he had been to all the lower 48 states and parts of Canada. On vacation Tom would still like to travel, visiting his ancestral home in Switzerland on a European vacation and Mayan ruins on a cruise. Tom loved to talk about trucks, grow a big garden and his cows. 

Tom was a loving husband and caring father. Prior to his illness, he also helped care for his grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters, Esther Mering, Louise Huntington, Bonnie Hartley, Dorothy Lee Larkin, and Willa Mae Fleming; and three brothers, Clarence, Ronald, and Kenneth. 

He is survived by his wife Carolyn; son Rex; daughter Carleen Mortensen; grandchildren, Bryan (Kendall) Burgener, Brandon Burgener, Kayley (Nate) Smith, Ben (Bailey) Burgener, and Trevor and Travis Mortenson; and great-granddaughters, Loghan, Paityn and Olivia.  

Funeral services will take place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 11 a.m., with burial to follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. 

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