Kerry Burke Sparks

Kerry Burke Sparks, 88, from Rigby, Idaho, and formerly Jackson, Montana, died June 13, 2026, in Ririe, Idaho.

He was born in 1937, at the LDS Hospital in Idaho Falls to Lawrence Clair and Gail Burke Sparks. He attended and graduated High School in Shelley, Idaho, and was a Sargeant in the Army Reserve.

He married Nina Elaine Bradley in May of 1956, in the Idaho Falls Temple. To this union God granted 3 children; Deborah, Bryan, and Beverly. They worked for ranchers in Shelley, Dillon, and Jackson, Montana, until he took a job working for Beaverhead County Road and Bridge. Nina died in 1995. In 1996, he married Jeanette Petersen Radford, and they resided in Rigby for 29 Years.

Kerry was a proud member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He helped to establish the Church in Jackson, Montana. He and Nina held church services in their home for a while. Later they used the Presbyterian church house with no running water and an old oil heater for heat. He presided as Branch President for 15 years in Jackson, Montana. In 1996, the Church built a new building on property purchased from Kerry. Kerry and Jeanette served a 2-year mission at the Big Piney Girls Camp and eight years at the Rexburg Temple as Baptism coordinators.

Kerry was a true cowboy at heart. He worked with sheep, cattle, horses, and pigs. He operated tractors, trucks, road graders, bulldozers and many other types of heavy equipment. He loved the outdoors, camping, 4 wheelers, and RZR rides. Traveling to see “where does this road go” was his motto. He enjoyed many travels to a variety of locations throughout the United States and Canada as well as multiple cruises throughout the world.

Survivors include children Deborah (Howard) Kimmel of Ririe, Idaho, Bryan (Tami) Sparks of Hooper, Utah, and Beverly (Doug) Hampton of West Point, Utah; stepchildren David (Liz) Radford of Ammon, Idaho, Denise (Blair) Rigby of Rexburg, Idaho, Nancy (Brett) Dabell of Rigby, Idaho, Mike (Kristi) Radford of Rigby, Idaho; Brother Adrian Sparks of Woodville, Idaho. 18 Grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, 16 step grandchildren and 50 step great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Gail Sparks, brother Derril Sparks, first wife, Nina Bradley Sparks, second wife, Jeanette Petersen Radford, and daughter-in-law Christie Bowan Sparks.

Services will be held June 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Ririe Idaho Stake Center, 14061 N 130 Rd E, Ririe, Idaho. Interment will be at Fielding Memorial Cemetery, 4600 S Yellowstone Highway, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.