Byron W. Burns, Sr.

Byron W. Burns, Sr. passed peacefully from this earth at Hospice at the Chaplaincy in Kennewick on April 30, 2017, at the age of 88.  Byron was born November 22, 1928, in Jackson, WY, to parents Robert and Florence Burns.

Byron lived most of his life in the Kelso-Longview, WA, area where he worked for Longview Fibre for 34 years before retiring in 1989.  A few years later, Byron and his wife Betty moved to the Tri-Cities to be near his daughter Cody Burns Spanner and her family.  In addition to working in the paper mill, Byron built a number of custom and spec houses throughout the 1970s and 1980s, earning a well-deserved reputation for expert craftsmanship. 

Prior to moving to Kelso, Byron led an adventurous life, leaving school after the 8^th grade to become a cowboy and ranch hand.  Byron competed in rodeos for years, in calf roping and bareback riding.  At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Germany just as WWII was ending.  He was one of the first allied soldiers to enter the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.  Shortly thereafter, he was sent to Wiesbaden to assist with supplies at the Air Force Recreational Facility.  Byron was tasked with building lockers, a dance floor, and numerous construction projects, earning commendations from his officers.  After 4 years in the service, he returned to Wyoming and remained in the reserves, during which he was on his way to the Korean War when he was suddenly dismissed from re-activation.   Byron was extremely proud of his military service.

Before heading back to Wyoming after deactivation, Byron and some buddies went out dancing. That is where Byron met the love of his life, Betty June Sundquist.  Betty loved to swing dance and Byron loved to two-step.  It was a whirlwind romance that resulted in a wedding in 1951. The newlyweds moved to Wyoming where Byron was a big game and fishing guide at a dude ranch that catered to wealthy New Englanders. They soon had a baby boy, Byron Jr. They eventually moved to Idaho where Byron worked in ranching, mining, construction, and breaking horses.  In 1954, daughter Cody was born.  A few years later, Byron began his permanent employment at Longview Fibre.

In his retirement, Byron discovered golf, scoring three holes-in-one, and often starting play before sunup.  After moving to the Tri-Cities, Byron became a regular (and pre-dawn) customer at the West Richland Golf Course, the Spudnut Shop, Andy’s North, and the Airport Café.  Byron’s ready smile led him to many instant and enduring friendships in his retirement, among them Gib, Dean, and Doug.  He was also a favorite of the staffs at Riverton and the Hospice at the Chaplaincy.

Byron was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Betty, parents Robert and Florence, and siblings Robert (Bob) Burns, Jane Scott, Eloyse Rogers, Justine Staley, Sandy Prestwich, Kita Teeter, Barbara Sharpe, and Shaunna Birkinbine.   Byron is survived by his son, Byron, Jr., of Henderson, NV; daughter Cody Burns Spanner (Gary) of Pasco; and grandsons Andrew Burns, Aaron Burns (both of Las Vegas), and Griffan Spanner of Pasco.  He is also survived by his siblings David Burns, Dean Burns, and Jeanine Schroeder (Parry). 

There will be private service for Byron and Betty in Jackson later this year.  Memorial contributions may be made to Chaplaincy Health Care (hospice), Richland, WA.