Clayton Burton, age 83, of Hitchcock, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at Avantara Huron in Huron. His funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at Bonilla Presbyterian Church in Bonilla, South Dakota. Visitation, with his family present, will be from 5-7 PM on Monday, March 2, 2020 at Welter Funeral Home in Huron; or visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. A time of sharing and prayer service will be held at 6:30 PM on Monday night at Welter Funeral Home.

Clayton Eugene Burton was born on March 29, 1936 to parents Frank and Vera (Christenson) Burton in Wolsey, South Dakota. He attended Sand Creek School for Kindergarten then Bonilla Independent School from 1 ^st thru 12 ^th grade. Clayton married Merry Swaney on June 3, 1956 in the Bonilla Presbyterian Church; they were wed for 64 years. To this union four children were born, Darwin, Teri, Kerwin, and Vicki.

Clayton farmed and milked cows for 47 years on his family's dairy farm. He was President of AMPI for many years, this gave him and Merry the opportunity to travel to many dairy states across the US. He was once chosen farmer of the year! He enjoyed pheasant hunting with his "Memphis Bunch" and his family, tending to his watermelon patch and throwing out his famous one-liners. Clayton also served on the Bonilla township board and was a life-long member of Bonilla Presbyterian Church.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife Merry, children Darwin (Carol) Burton of Hitchcock, Teri (Mark) Zerr of Aberdeen, Kerwin (Lori) Burton of Gillette, and Vicki (Doug) Davis of Miller; grandchildren, Dallas (Lacey) Burton, Tyler (Jen) Burton, Mattie Zerr (Zachary Ulmer), Corey (De) Burton, Brandi (Scott) Holley, Brittni Burton, Brendan Letsche (Alyssa Reyelts), Devin Letsche (Rachel Oligmueller), Justin Vrooman, Kierra Donahue, Stephanie (Zerr) Litzen, Mitch Zerr, Angie (Zerr) Miller, Chelsea (Taylor) Droz, Danielle Davis (Andy Grape) and Heather (Cutter) Murray; great-grandchildren, Eastlyn and Dayson Burton, Caven, Elle and Hudson Holley, Renner Burton, Quent and Carson Bourne, and one on the way; sisters Jeannine (Gene) Hoffman of Dell Rapids and Marilyn Frahm of Jamestown, ND, and brother-in-law Lyle Mullner of Cheyenne, WY.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Vera Burton; parents-in-law, Wayne and Mildred Swaney; sister Janet Burton, brother Larry Burton, sisters-in-law Pat (Mike) Saarie and Rita Mullner; and brother-in-law, Gene Frahm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials are preferred to Bonilla Presbyterian Church.