Montivel "Monty" A. Burke

Monty Burke Dies in California

Montivel A. (Monty) Burke, 81, brother-in-law of the late Len and James Christian, and well known by old-timers in both Niobrara County and the Harrison area, died at Alhambra Calif., on December 13.

He had lived in and around this area for a number of years and visited in Lusk only last summer.

At the time of his retirement from the State Assembly in 1963 when his district was reapportioned he was the ranking Republican. He had also served as mayor of Alhambra and in many other civic capacities. He was a personal friend of Richard Nixon and much of Nixon's political knowledge and aspiration were the result of Burke's encouragement.

He is survived by his son, Talmage, an attorney who like his father has carved out a highly successful career in public life, and his daughter, Mrs. Norma Jean Evans with whom he lived in later years.

Mr. Burke was born in Charleston, W. Va., on July 20, 1885. He was one of 17 children and his father was a Presbyterian minister. He spent his boyhood in Nebraska where he developed a great love for horses. At one time he sold a horse to Buffalo Bill who at that time was packaging his famed Wild West Circus. Burke turned down the offer to join the show because of his age.

He moved to California in 1904 and to Alhambra in 1919. He was one of the founders of the original Alhambra Real Estate Association and a building contractor, but achieved his greatest prominence in public life.

Funeral services will be Saturday at San Marino, with burial in the Sunnyside Mausoleum in Long Beach, Calif.

Survivors include one son, Talmage Burke and a daughter, Mrs. Norma Jean Evans and four grandchildren, all of California.

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