Larry Keith Burke

Published August 14, 2025

Larry Keith Burke

April 16, 1939 – Aug. 7, 2025

LAWRENCE – Larry K. Burke, 86, formerly of Dodge City, died on Aug. 7, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born April 16, 1939, the son of Harrison and Margie (Curtis) Burke.

Burke’s parents moved to Dodge City, in 1940. He went to school there, graduating from Dodge City Senior High in 1957. He was active in athletics, earning letters in both track and football. In 1956, his mile relay team set the school record for that event, a record which stood for 17 years.

Burke went on to attend the University of Kansas (KU) and graduated with a degree in history. During his time at KU, he was an active member of Delta Upsilon fraternity. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate through Army R.O.T.C. and accepted a Regular Army Commission as a second lieutenant.

Burke went into active duty in May 1962. On Feb. 11, 1962, he married the love of his life, Sonja Christine Hampton, in Oskaloosa, Kan., after which they embarked on a six-and-a-half-year Army adventure. They were stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, for three years, Fort Benning, Ga., for one year, and Fort Knox, Ky., for one year.

Burke served in Vietnam from 1966-1967. He was a graduate of the Army’s Airborne course in 1965 and finished second in his Ranger training class in 1966. He was an Honor Graduate of the nine-month Infantry Officers Career Course, and while a student there, won the General George C. Marshall Award for Excellence in Professional Writing.

His article was published in Infantry Magazine in September 1966. While serving in Vietnam with the Army’s famed First Infantry Division, he was a rifle company commander and staff officer with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry and was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for heroism, the Army Commendation Medal with “V” for heroism, six Air Medals, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Burke left the Army in August 1968 to return to Dodge City, where he entered into the family shoe business with his father and brother, Richard. He also taught history part time at Dodge City Community College (DC3). After 18 years in business, he accepted a full-time teaching position at DC3 as Professor of History, a job he loved.

He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in History from Fort Hays State University. He was named a Master Teacher by the College of Education of the University of Texas at Austin and won the Distinguished Faculty Award from DC3 in 2000.

While chairing the Campus Beautification Committee, he raised $44,000 on his own initiative for the planting of trees and other campus beautification projects. He retired from teaching in 2012 and was inducted into the DC3 Hall of Fame for outstanding career achievement in April 2016.

Burke was inducted into the KU Army R.O.T.C. Jayhawk Battalion Wall of Fame in October 2019. After he and Sonja moved to Lawrence in their retirement, he taught classes for the Osher Institute at KU. A skilled writer and lecturer, he made numerous presentations at historical conferences around the country.

He wrote multiple book reviews for the Journal of Military History, and he wrote a prize-winning short story based on his Vietnam experience, which won the best short story award for the Kansas Authors Club and for Kansas Voices. He also gave numerous talks around the state for the Speakers Bureau of the Kansas Humanities Council.

Burke was a member of the Dodge City First United Methodist Church and its Keystone Sunday School class, where lifelong friendships were formed. He was active in civic affairs and served on several boards of directors, including the board of the Dodge City Public Library for many years, the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas, DC3 Foundation, Kansas Association of Historians, Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City Country Club, and Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Burke loved his wife Sonja, his family, reading, tennis, sailing, and morning coffee with his beloved buddies. He adored his eight grandchildren, spending many summer nights with them in the hammock of his backyard, telling stories that will be forever cherished. He was a loyal KU alumnus and a fervent KU athletics fan—especially KU football—holding season tickets and traveling to games since 1968.

Survivors include Sonja, his beloved wife of 63 years, who was with him through thick and thin, two daughters, Kelly Davis and husband Brad of Overland Park, Kan., Kisa Nichols Miller and husband Robert of Baldwin City, Kan., and son Beau and wife Jennifer of Castle Rock, Colo., eight grandchildren, Anna (Kane), Ryan (Maggie), Quinn, Andrew, Allison, Megan, Kate, and Jameson, and one great-grandson, Frank.

He is also survived by his sister, Linda Burke Goff and husband Greg, sisters- and brothers-in-law Georgia Burke, Barbara Kelley, Buzz and Suzie Hampton, Debbie and Steve Finley, 14 nieces and nephews, and a host of cherished friends.

Burke was preceded in death by his parents, Harrison and Margie Burke, and his brother, Richard Burke.

Memorial services, with military honors, will be Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church in Dodge City at 10 a.m., with inurnment at Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Dodge following the church service.

The family suggests memorials to the Dodge City Public Library or the DC3 Foundation. Barnett Family Funeral Home of Oskaloosa and Swaim Funeral Home of Dodge City are assisting the family with arrangements. Thoughts and memories may be shared online at barnettfamily.com or swaimfuneralhome.com.