Burton Mitchel Louis Dupre
September 2, 1923 - September 29, 2013
Obituary
Burton Mitchel Louis Dupré was born 9/2/1923 in Centerville MN to Joseph and Marie (Dufresne) Dupré. Burton was the middle of five children: Orella Gallivan (deceased), Melvin, Andrew (deceased) and Stanley. As a youth he enjoyed looking for arrowheads, fishing and hunting in the beautiful surroundings. He formed life-long friendships and returned often to Minnesota to visit.
Burton graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1941. He served his country in WWII in the army. On his Army paperwork he wrote this as his civilian occupation: “Worked on father’s 100-acre farm in Centerville for ten years. Drove a 1.5 ton box truck, harvested ice for homes and stores, hauled supplies and rubbish, and drove short hauls on tar, gravel and dirt roads. On the farm, did all sorts of field and chore work. Drove 10-20 wheel for two years each summer. Put in rings and bearings. Drove two to four horses in a hitch. Painted farm buildings.”
Following his training in Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Colorado, he was stationed in England as a medic. Later he went to Germany and was assigned to work in the motor pool, until it was learned he had tended bar in Centerville. He and a staff sergeant started a company bar, and Burton never did get to drive anyone anywhere.
After his discharge from the army he attended the Airline Training division of the Central Radio and Television College in Kansas City, MI. After a brief stint at Wisconsin Central Airlines in St. Cloud MN he began a 38-year career with Northwest Airlines in Seattle. He worked in many roles, from Transportation Agent, to Load Control Agent, to Customer Service Agent, and even Chief Mail Expediter. He retired as a Supervisor in Cargo.
Some of his more notable achievements at NWA include directing the rescue efforts of a 1956 Stratocruiser ditched in Puget Sound, while keeping regular operations running smoothly. He was also part of the team on duty at the time of the DB Cooper hijacking, and was involved in obtaining the parachutes from McChord AFB that the hijacker had requested.
He met the love of his life, June Brieher, in 1958 at a NWA party. On their first date Burt invited June and a bunch of her fellow stewardesses to his house for dinner, to be cooked by he and his housemates. Burton and June married in March 1960 at Lake Burien Presbyterian Chapel, with Rev. William Brieher officiating. Their marriage was kept quiet because stewardesses were required to be single. The gig was up when their first child, Laura, was due. Fifteen months later, Daniel was born, and Rebecca followed seven years later. Burton enjoyed teaching his children to ice skate, and instructing them in the fine art of beachcombing. As each of his children married, he graciously welcomed Steve Peloquin, Adonna Babcock and Michael McIvor into the family.
Burton particularly enjoyed the beach (Moclips was a particular favorite), having a keen eye for small details. He was always on the lookout for beach glass, agates, and interesting pieces of driftwood. He polished the latter, smoothing and finishing them with an antler.
The family spent many vacations at Woman Lake in Minnesota with June’s family (the Briehers, Wrigleys and Condons). Burton was known on several occasions to lead the whole clan in singing “Alouette” around the campfire – usually wearing Birkenstocks with socks – and once directing with a fly swatter!
In 1989 Burt and June built a custom home on 10th Avenue in Burien. He enjoyed supervising the process and they enjoyed entertaining there for many years. After June retired, the happy couple enjoyed several winters in Arizona.
After retirement, Burt dedicated many hours to his yard, with beautiful rhododendrons and roses. When it became too difficult for him to do the manual labor himself, he drafted his daughter Laura and directed her to branches to be pruned by pointing with his cane. He was an expert at pruning roses. He loved geraniums and petunias, and lined them up like crops – this color in a row here, that color in a row there.
Burton relished his grandchildren – Justin Peloquin, Rebekah Peloquin Millspaugh (Marcus), Elise Dupré, Catherine Dupré Wendland (Matthew), Sarah Dupré Damey (Jerome) and David Dupré, Elanor McIvor and Audrey McIvor. He was delighted with the gift of great-grandchildren Elisabeth Millspaugh and Oliver Millspaugh. He was especially pleased that his great-grandson bears his name. In fact, when informed of the baby’s name he was unable to recall “Oliver”, remembering only that the middle name was Burton.
Burton was a faithful member at John Knox Presbyterian Church for many years, serving as deacon and usher. He was raised Catholic, and though converting on adulthood he continued to use his missal every morning. His hope was firmly placed in the Lord Jesus Christ and it is a great comfort to his family to know that he is now with the Lord
We are sending our condolences to you and your family who
have lost a husband, father, grandfather & one or our favorite
uncles. May The Lord give you strength & peace & know
that we are thinking of all of you.
Bob & Kathy
I am so sorry to hear of you fathers passing! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Sounds like we got another very special Angel! Hugs! Marilyn
So sad to hear of Burt’s “home going” (as we call it down here) but know that he is rejoicing with his Lord and Savior! He was such a very special gentleman. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you all…dear June, Laura (and Steve), Rebecca (and Mike), and Daniel.
Pam and I were so sorry to hear about Burt. It’s unbelievable that life can change so fast. We feel so blessed that we were able to spend time with him last month before Josh’s wedding, he always had a way of making us feel welcome, comfortable and important. I’ve always admired the way Burt carried himself. He was eager to listen and slow to speak and you knew that what he had to say would have lasting value. There are very few people in this life that we can look at and know that they were truly genuine, but he was one. I really can’t even begin to list all of the words that could describe him, I guess the most accurate would be to say that he was truly a great man, not because of his accomplishments but because of the way that he loved and cherished his wife and family. He will definitely be missed and will always be loved by so many. What an example he left for us to follow and to strive for !
We love you guys,
Andy and Pam
Dear Family members,
So sorry to hear of your loss of such a special man. Thanks for sharing the story of his life here. His children, grand children and great grand children are such a testimony to his faithfulness and capacity to love, as a human being. What a wonderful family. My deepest condolences on your loss.
Burt was a gracious wonderful man. I loved being around him when I lived in Redmond back in 1973.
We are blessed to have know such an amazing man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Sending lots of hugs!
love you all!
God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.Psam 46:1
Rob & Laura
Very nice. Our thoughts are with the entire family.
We enjoyed reading about Burt’s history.
Love to you all,
Ron Babcock and Jake VanOrsow
I can’t add much to what Andy said, it is all true. Even though Burt is gone, here on earth we will always be connected, through Laura, Steve and the Grand children. What a blessing to have known Burton. A true gentleman.
What a dear man Burt was! I did not get to know him real well but when he moved into Judson Park and I hosted lunches there representing the Deacons of John Knox Church we had fun chats together. When Burt came to the lunches he always had a story to tell and I loved to hear all the details and then ask questions. He knew how to make me feel that he was genuinely interested in me and what I was involved in. Burt had a smile on his face, even when I knew he was not feeling his best. I had hopes that he would come through this last health crisis as he always had in the past but the Lord had a better idea and took him home instead. We will all miss this wonderful man! I was blessed to know him! Saturday will be a grand celebration of a life well lived!
My Dear Sister June & Family:
Dee & I regret that we are unable to attend our Brother-In-Law Burts funeral. You are in our daily prayers. May God give each of you comfort and peace during this time of grieving.
God’s Peace to all
Bill & Dee
Dan (and family), So very sorry to hear of your father’s passing. May memories of happier times help you all thru these next few days. With considerable regret, Ronnie and I will not be able to attend the services, but please know that you, your father, and family are most definitely in our prayers!
John
Burt was my Dad’s cousin, but when I was young I felt like he was my uncle not a cousin to me as well. He stood up for my Dad & Mom’s wedding in 1947 and again was asked to be present and take on another very important function in our family and that was to be my Godfather.
Burt must have played a very important part in my Dad’s life back then.
I have been blessed to have known this special man in my life for over 60 years. All thought I did not get to visit with him as much as I would have liked our times together when we did were always special to me.
I am so great full to have visited with him in August just a couple of weeks before his passing. He loved us all and had time to tell his stories with each of us. How special those memories are. Love you Burt rest in peace and hope Dad was there to great you with open arms.
Burt was the first person to welcome me to Washington in 1958, with whom we remained close friends to this day. All of
my memories of him will be of comfort to me whenever I think of him and his family.
Rereading this obituary 3 years after he’s passed away has reminded me of how lucky I am to be his granddaughter. He’s made me so proud to be a Dupre, and to have such a rich, joy filled history.
I miss him every day, and think of him anytime someone sings barbershop, or anytime I’m at the ocean. Or really any time at all when someone is wearing a cashmere sweater.
My siblings and I would always linger after hugging him because he always wore such nice sweaters. We’d always tell him “Papa, you’re so soft. I want your sweater when you grow out of it.”
I remember telling him “Papa, your hair is so shiny! How do you do that!?” And he leaned and and told me “Honey, that’s what you call a spit shine.”
Love him so much!