Lawrence Burke, age 91, of Elm Springs, South Dakota passed away peacefully on February 3, 2026 at the Good Life Senior Living and Memory Care Center in Price, Utah.


Lawrence was born November 23, 1934 at the family home in the small community of Mickey, Texas. He was the youngest of six children born to Dee Witt and Martha Lee (Hickman) Burke. He attended some of his grade school years at the adjoining community of Sandhill. Like his siblings he helped on the farm when he was old enough. Cotton was their main cash crop, and he both hoed it and pulled it when it was ready to harvest.


In 1943 the family moved to the Felton place, which was a big farmhouse a mile from the city limits of Floydada, Texas. Floydada was the county seat of Floyd County, and the closest town of any real size. Lawrence completed elementary school and started high school there in 1949. Like many high school age boys he had a few extracurricular activities; namely girls and fast cars, but mostly anything to do with cars. He wasn’t happy unless he had the fastest or best looking car in town.


Since childhood Lawrence was fascinated by anything pertaining to the events that went on during World War II. Both of his older brothers enlisted in the service when the U.S. entered the war, and both saw aerial combat overseas. They were also both fortunate to come back home alive. Dewitt, the oldest son, then acquired several airplanes and got into the crop dusting business. In November 1949 he was killed in a plane wreck when he hit a major power line while defoliating cotton. That same year Dee Witt had purchased some cropland in South Dakota, and was joined by the middle brother Jim and his family to farm wheat there. Another event in 1951 was the move of Lawrence and his parents into a new house in Floydada. All of his siblings were married by then.


Lawrence graduated from high school in 1953 and worked a number of jobs while still finding time to chase girls. He finally caught a good one in Doris Foster, a former schoolmate whose hometown was nearby Dougherty, Texas. The couple married December 19, 1959, and made their home in Plainview, Texas, where Lawrence was employed as a clerk for the Santa Fe Railway. He next worked in the offices of Cargill, United Elevators, and Plainview Wheat Growers.


By 1962 his dad was thinking of retiring from farming and wondered if Lawrence would be interested in coming to South Dakota and farming with Jim. Thus began six years of Lawrence and Doris moving back and forth between Texas and South Dakota for wheat harvest and planting. When spring came, off they would go to South Dakota, and in the fall they would return to Plainview where Lawrence kept his job with Plainview Wheat Growers.


On October 24, 1964, their daughter Melissa was born, followed by son Shannon on February 10, 1968. Lawrence purchased 400 acres with an old house site from Roy Bowman in 1966, and 1,640 acres with a livable house in 1969 from Oscar Asheim. Now Lawrence would be able to run some cows, something he’d always wanted to do. Over the years he bought a few Angus cows and heifers at a time, until he had nearly 100 head total. He used Hereford bulls, as he liked the resulting “baldy” calves. The first two bulls he obtained were “Ferd” and “Newly” – named after characters from the 70’s comedy t.v. show “Laugh-In.”


In 1979 he and Doris had a new house built, and the family moved into it in December. He continued to farm and ranch, although oftentimes the weather dictated his plans in that regard. Melissa and Shannon graduated from Wall High School and eventually moved away from Elm Springs. Lawrence worked several jobs for extra income. He drove the local school bus, worked a number of years for Birdsall Sand and Gravel at Wasta, South Dakota, was on the West River Electric Board of Directors, and worked at the Information Center at the Wasta rest area.


Lawrence enjoyed writing and drawing, and after his retirement he put together a book of cowboy cartoons titled Hank Sez, as well as a second book regarding his memoirs titled Jack of all Trades – Master of None. He was always tough to beat in a game of dominoes. His favorite place to be near the end was in his easy chair in front of the picture window – reading, napping, and watching the world go by.


Survivors include his daughter Melissa Burke of Rapid City, South Dakota; son Shannon (Terah) Burke of St. George, Utah; grandson Skyler Burke of Rapid City, South Dakota; granddaughter Shawnee Earley of Caputa, South Dakota; granddaughter Ava Burke of St. George, Utah; great-granddaughter Remington Earley of Caputa, South Dakota; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of neighbors and friends.


He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 50 years, Doris Burke; his parents; two brothers Dewitt and James (“Jim”) Burke; sisters Mildred Cates, Jonelle Fawver, and Valrie Tye; and by several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Elm Springs Hall, Elm Springs Church, or the Elm Springs Fire Department.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Elm Springs Hall with Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating.

Interment will follow at the Elm Springs Cemetery. A lunch will be served following the graveside service back at the Elm Springs Hall.