Theodore Prescott Burton

Theodore Prescott Burton, Jr., was born on January 15, 1935, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to T.P. Sr. and Katherine Burton. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Anne, and his brother, Charles. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth "Libby", sister-in-law, Marion, four children, Laura, Stuart, Margo, and Mandy, niece and nephew, Scott and Julie, and 11 grandchildren, Swan, Marcel, Ellen, Peter, Atlas, Anne Marie, Elie, Nina, Betsy, Haven and Maya. He attended Edina High School, Williams College and the University of Minnesota. Ted worked in insurance and education until retirement in 1998. If you ever met Ted, he was genuinely happy to have met or known you. Goodbye, dear Teddy. We will miss you dearly. You passed away on March 26, 2022, peacefully, in your home where you welcomed so many visitors during the last few months. You kept us smiling and laughing with wit and wisdom until the very end. That recent incident, where you took a hard fall at home and remarked "well, I guess I'm not going dancing"; that was a good one. It would have been funny if it wasn't also so sad. Your body, once that of an avid tennis player and swimmer, was finally weakened by leukemia. But your mind held on pretty well. All those years of crosswords and voracious reading, staring out at Lake Minnetonka, Lake Superior, and Lake Hamilton, while processing your thoughts—they were good years and tough years, too. We humans like to think we control our paths in life, but you wouldn't claim to possess that skill. Like a bird floating on the water, you went where the waves took you, and you observed. You looked outside yourself, studied us all and tried to add a little levity and positivity where you could. Thank you for that. Thanks for your gentle smile and oft-repeated wish of "Be kindly, one to another." Thank you for showing us your love and awe for your wife, Libby, and her youthful manner. Thank you for your service in the Army, and for serving at both Trinity Episcopal, Excelsior, and St. Luke's Episcopal, Hot Springs. We remember the poem you loved on the cabin wall: "When you smile I see a wildflower. When you laugh, whole fields. And when you weep I taste salt." We'll remember that and we'll remember you. Memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute, or Arkansas Hospice. Friends and family may register at: www.grossfuneralhome.com