Carter Burke

Carter Karl Burke, 82, of West Yellowstone, Montana, passed away on July 9, 2026 in St. Anthony, Idaho.

Carter was born to Gordon Alma and Lila Balmforth Burke on August 25, 1943, in Shelley, Idaho, the 3rd of 8 children. He spent much of his childhood in Lincoln, Idaho and graduated from Bonneville High School in 1961.

After one year of college, Carter served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany from 1962-1965. Upon returning home, he completed his degree in Sociology at Brigham Young University.

While at BYU, he met Linda Strutz. After dating for a few years, they were married on September 13, 1968 and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with five children: Stephannee, Candice, Timothy, Benjamin and Allyson.

Carter and Linda spent their first few married years in Carmichael, California when he took a job as a pharmaceutical sales rep. Eventually, they moved to Sandy, Utah where they purchased their first home. Upon learning they were expecting their fifth child, they built a new home in South Jordan, Utah to accommodate their growing family. Carter and Linda raised their family in that home for 20 years before retiring to West Yellowstone, Montana.

Carter worked in the pharmaceutical industry for his entire career. He was able to travel to many different places and meet many new people. He was a hard worker who did all he could to provide for his family.He loved living in West Yellowstone. He loved how peaceful and beautiful it was, with animals frequently passing by. One of his favorite things was to welcome his children and grandchildren home, filling the house with noise and laughter.

Carter had a profound love of the gospel of Jesus Christ and it was a defining characteristic of his life. He will be remembered for his unwavering testimony. He was always willing to serve wherever he was needed which included as Young Men’s president, Elders Quorum president, ward clerk, counselor in the bishopric, Bishop of the West Yellowstone ward and Stake High Councilor.Carter loved music and often sang in church choirs. He had the opportunity to sing with a choir for a session of General Conference.

In 2014, Carter was able to return to Germany and visit many of the places he had lived during his mission. He was so grateful for the opportunity to go back and spoke of it often.

Carter is beloved by many and will be remembered for his kind eyes and smile, dedication to his family and the gospel, loyalty and love. He will be greatly missed.

Carter’s legacy will live on through his wife, Linda (West Yellowstone, MT); children Stephannee (Martin) Schwinger, San Antonio, TX; Candice Burke, Ponderay, ID, Timothy Burke, West Yellowstone, MT, Benjamin Burke, Ashton, ID, and Allyson (Matthew) Phillips, Taylorville, IL; grandchildren Nicholas Schwinger, Peter (Kassandra) Schwinger, Zachary (Faith) Schwinger, Gabrielle Schwinger, Hannah Burke, Tyler Burke, Henry Burke, Vaughn Burke, Alexander Phillips and George Phillips; and 6 great-grandchildren Genevieve, Claire, Eleanor, James, Eliza and Grace; siblings Laurie (Ron) McIntyre, Mesa, AZ, Byron Burke, Meridian, ID, Beverly Davis, Brandon, SD, and Kelly (Alicia) Burke, Mesa, AZ, and many nieces and nephews.

Carter was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Lila Burke, brothers Kent, Richard and Spencer Burke, sister-in-law Suzanne Burke, daughter-in-law Emily Burke and nephews Jacob and Jonathan Burke.

His family would like to thank the staff at Homestead Assisted Living who cared for Carter in the last months of his life as well as all those who have shown an outpouring of love and support to the family during this time.

Carter will be interred at Pineview Cemetery in Ashton, ID following a private family service.