William Patrick Burge

June 3, 2025 - April 19, 2025

William Patrick Burge, age 81, passed away quietly at home on April 19,2025.
Bill was born February 23,1944 in Londonderry North Ireland to William Bryon Burge and Mary Josephine McCann Burge.
They came home to America in 1945 and settled in Portland, OR where Bill attended Catholic schools.
Upon graduation he joined the Navy in submarine service. In 1966 he married Pulou Tauvaga in Hawaii.
They had 3 children, Robert, Sherri, and Jeff. They later divorced. In 1971 Bill married LaVonna Lufkin in Winnemucca, NV., and they reported for duty aboard the USS Halibut.
This special projects boat took part in one of the most critical spy operations undertaken during the cold war.
While Bill was aboard the Halibut, they made their home in Napa, CA where Kelly and Joe were born. In 1979 the family moved to Moscow, ID where Bill had shore duty at the U of I until he retired from the Navy in December of 1982.
He then moved the family to Boise,ID where he worked for the Forest Service in charge of the radio cache at the Interagency Fire Center until retirement in 2003.
Bill and LaVonna originally retired to Orofino, ID where Bill was president of the Orofino Show and Shine for many years. He loved to show his 1955 Chevy 4x4 pickup that he personally restored.
He also enjoyed penning opinion columns for the local newspaper.
They lived in Orofino until 2020 when they moved to Winnemucca to be closer to family.
Bill was preceded in death by both parents and his sister Naomi O’Donnell.
He is survived by his wife, LaVonna, all of his children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Sister Patricia (Clifford) Hurlbut and brother Michael (DeAnne) Hoard both of Portland, OR.
A military service will be held at the Winnemucca Cemetery at 11am June 11, 2025 followed by a gathering of friends and family at the home of Kelly Scott.