BOMBER MEMORIAL

HAROLD LEONARD "HAL" BURGER ~ Class of 1962
May 7, 1944 - June 25, 2023



Harold Leonard "Hal" Burger passed away peacefully Sunday, June 25, 2023, at home surrounded by his family. He was born May 7, 1944, in New York City to Leland and Eleanor Burger. After World War II ended, the family moved briefly to Seattle, then to Richland in 1949 where Lee worked in nuclear research. Hal attended Jefferson Elementary, Chief Joseph Junior High and Richland's Columbia High School graduating in 1962.

Growing up Hal enjoyed rockhounding, camping and fly fishing with his family. He was active in Sea Scouts where he developed his love for sailing and the sea. He and his dad built a two-man sailboat. He was also an expert snow skier, winning several slalom championships in the northwest.

He loved art from an early age and was twice selected while in high school, by the National Achievement Awards, as the top art student in the United States prompting him, upon graduation, to attend Central Washington State University to study art. He later transferred to the University of Wyoming. While there he served on the Jackson Hole, WY ski patrol and worked as a cowboy on his cousin's cattle ranch.

Hal spent four years in the U. S. Coast Guard during the Vietnam War.

In 1968 when his ship was docked in Monterey, CA he met and married his wife, Dona. They had three children. They moved to Butte, MT in 1970 where Hal studied geology at the Montana School of Mines and worked at the Anaconda Mining Company's Berkley Pit, all the while refining his jewelry designing skills in a small shop he owned. Eventually he became a respected name in the jewelry industry as a master goldsmith and gem cutter. His work took him to Seattle, Bend, OR and Raleigh, NC.

Hal could fix anything. He loved tinkering on and driving his corvette and enjoyed several road trips with local corvette clubs.

After retiring he was able to pursue his love for animals, working with tigers and other large cats at Carolina Tiger Rescue.

Five years ago Hal and Dona and their menagerie of cats and dogs returned to Richland to the Burger family home.

Hal is survived by his wife, Dona; their sons: Michael (Shannon), Brian (Darcy) and Christian; his sister, Virginia Burger Tracy ('68) (Robert); 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Leland and Eleanor Burger; and by his brother, James Burger ('72).

A memorial celebration of his life will be held at 2PM on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at his home at 1925 Howell in Richland.

Donations may be made in his memory to Carolina Tiger Rescue.

View and sign the online guestbook.

Published in the Tri-City Herald on October 25, 2023.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).