Clark Monson Burton

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Clark Burton, age 36, who left this world far too soon. His departure on June 4, 2025, has left a profound void in the lives of all those who cherish him.

Clark was a kind, tender-hearted person who lived a life driven by love. He was a champion in all he accomplished and is truly a beacon of courage and resilience. He is deeply loved and admired by all who knew him, even briefly, and his memory is forever a testament to his indomitable spirit. Clark brought constant light and laughter to those around him. His hugs were authentic and powerful. His belly laugh was playful and contagious. With warrior strength and tenacity, Clark faced horrific darkness and realities often worse than any violent Hollywood horror show, and yet radiated a life dominated by optimism and love.

Clark was born premature at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on Wednesday, April 5, 1989, weighing only 3 lbs10 oz. He survived several life-threatening illnesses in the first few days to weeks of his life and then literally across his entire life with one doctor commenting, when he was 3 years old, that “there must be angels watching over him.” At age 12, he began battling the illness that ultimately took his life 24 years later. He deeply loved animals and found such happiness when he was with his dogs and/or ferrets.

Clark graduated from Cottonwood High School and obtained his degree in motorcycle maintenance from Salt Lake Community College. He enjoyed playing his Baritone saxophone in both high school and college jazz bands and loved skateboarding with his friends to pass the time growing up. Clark worked to become proficient in the Norwegian language and befriended many Scandinavian Sober Riders. Clark had a lifelong passion of being in the wilderness with family and friends. Whether it was Kings Peak with his Scout Group as a teen or Mount Borah on his own as an adult, Clark was always fiercely determined to reach the trails end. When the adventure would inevitably turn to some level of suffering, Clark would take the time to bond with those he loved rather than letting any discouragement ruin the experience. Favorite peaks included Kings Peak, Mount Whitney, Lone Peak, and Mount Bora. Mt. Olympus, the mountain he grew up on, remained one of his favorites. He aspired to share many more miles with his family and friends. He was committed and deeply desired that his daughter LynnLee would learn the ways of the trail.

He built his first motorcycle from the ground up and ultimately developed the mastery and expertise to help many of his brothers and friends with their own motorcycles. Clark’s garage was a center of activity for his motorcycle community. He was skilled at leather work and loved gifting his art to his brothers.

Clark had an impressive and admirable work ethic. His earliest jobs were working at Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) Medical Supply and Smith’s Distribution Food Warehouse. He transitioned to learning the art of truck driving in the oil fields of Oklahoma and North Dakota and then to the back-breaking demands of Kennecott Mine. He became a supervisor and helped build the start-up, railroad-based company, Bridgesource. Most recently, he proudly became his own boss in the trucking industry. In just a short amount of time, he had already developed impressive proficiency, was admired and built many endearing business relationships.

He loved his family and was a beloved son, grandson, brother, cousin, and nephew. He always made family feel special and understood. He had a superpower for connection and always knew how to listen. He could see so deeply and cared so deeply. He was known for just randomly showing up or calling and how we all loved seeing his name pop up on our phones. He could see pain as he knew pain. We all knew we could tell him anything hard, as hard was his life. He has been described as loving without conditions (pure, open and generous) and as having a gentleness that was from beyond.

Clark found his community, and his extended family, including his beloved wife, within the Sober Riders Motorcycle Club. Clark’s life had a way of slowly morphing, once his heart had calibrated in the right direction -- his treasured brotherhood fostered and led him to some of the happiest years of his life. He dedicated giving back as much as he received and became an admired leader. Clark deeply valued his 18 years of sobriety and celebrated July 1, his “sobriety birthday”, as deeply as he celebrated his “belly button” birthday. He was so committed to his sobriety that, in quintessential Clark fashion (which always confronted challenges head on), when he suffered a catastrophic work injury involving a protracted recovery involving crushed fingers, he rejected the use of any and all pain medications.

Clark’s greatest joy was rooted in his family. He found his soulmate in Stormie and centered his life around her and their beautiful daughter LynnLee. He was a devoted husband and father. He loved sharing his life, outdoors, bikes, and their beloved ritual of reading bedtime stories to LynnLee. His love for them is unwavering, boundless, and transcendent.

Clark is survived by a family who adores him: his beloved wife Stormie Harris Burton and daughter LynnLee Burton (Ogden, Utah); his devoted mother, Janene Monson Holmberg (husband Kent Holmberg of Millcreek, Utah); his caring father, Steve Loren Burton (wife Nysje Burton of South Jordan, Utah); his sister, Heather Monson Burton (Eagle Mountain, Utah); his brother, Grant Monson Burton (wife Cortney Valavane of Salt Lake City); and his step-siblings Ashley Paige Eininger (Duluth, Minnesota), Benjamin Kent Holmberg (Vergas, Minnesota); and Jessica Kilgore (Gilbert, AZ) James Baker (South Jordan, Utah). Together, they remember Clark with a mixture of deep sorrow for his loss and gratitude for the love and joy he brought into their lives.

In honor of Clark’s memory, we ask all to remember the importance of compassion and connection. His passing is a reminder to reach out to one another, to listen, and to support those around us who may be navigating silent struggles.

Clark’s Celebration of Life will take place on June 22 at the Trappers Bowery Group Campsite at Fort Buenaventura Park in Ogden at 6:00 pm. Clark’s family would love for all those whose lives he touched to come to Fort Buenaventura and hang out for the day and talk, love, play games, and just gather to pay tribute and honor him. There will be a (motorcycle) Last Ride beginning at the Ogden Alano Club (684 24th Street)--meet at 2:30 pm with KSU (Kick Stand Up) at 3:00 pm with the ride ending at Fort Buenaventura at 5:30 pm. Dinner will be 5-6 prior to the Celebration of Life. If you would like to contribute to the dinner, please reach out to either Kacey (801.675.2821) or Nysje (801.864.1593, nysjeb@gmail.com). There is camping available from June 21 to June 24, but spots are limited, so if interested, please email Kent Holmberg at kent.holmberg@gmail.com.

Clark will be forever missed but his legacy of courage, love, tenacity and resilience will remain in the hearts of all those who knew him.

Oh Clark, how we will miss your frustrated furrowed brow, your mischievous smile, and you holding the ferrets up to our noses, asking us to “partake”. We will miss your glorious belly laugh and how you could only see the good in others. We see you in every motorcycle, blue semi-truck and a father with his little girl. How badly we wish we could have shown you how much joy and color you brought to this world. Clark, we know how unbearable your pain was, but would love you to know it was only a drop compared to the vast ocean of love and joy you brought to this world. We Love you Clark!