Ginger (Virginia) Lee Britton Brown Burt

Written by her loving husband, Roger

     A long time ago in the small town of Banning, in southern California, Ginger (Virginia Lee Britton Brown Burt) was born to George Edward and Velma Alice Daniel Britton on the 20th of June, 1949. She was the little sister to an older brother, David .... and a much older sister, Barbara. It wasn't long and tragedy struck the young family. When Ginger was only 6 months old, her mother died and her father was unable to care for the new infant.

     So Ginger went to live with an aunt until she was 5 years old, then back to Whittier, CA to live with her father, brother, and sister - just in time to start school. When Ginger was 10 years old, her father died of cancer. While paramedics and law enforcement were taking care of Dad the kids ran away. The older sister, at 17, simply disappeared. Ginger's older brother and herself went down the street to one of Dave's close friends. They took Dave in, but were unable to take Ginger too. Now alone at 10, Ginger being scared of having to go into an orphanage, continued down the street to a young family.... Robert and Nina Brown and a daughter (Cheryl) of 5 years.

     They took Ginger in .... taking 3 days for Social Services to find her! They would not let them take her away. Doing what was required ... they became Ginger's foster parents until they needed to move to Sacramento, so they adopted her.   

     When she was 17, I found Ginger there on Sheldon Road, Elk Grove, California on a blind date. We were married in the Fair Oaks Wedding Chapel in Fair Oaks, California, just east of Sacramento on the 17th of September, 1967. My mom and dad took our honeymoon.... while Ginger and I came home to start chopping corn. We were hitched up, yoked together as a team that lasted for 55 years. When mom and dad got home, one silo was full of corn. Ginger now knew how to drive tractors and unload wagons into a blower to fill the silo.

      I already knew that Ginger was born of a restless spirit .... what I didn't know was that, that spirit fueled an internal fire. I think that fire was still burning when she stepped through the veil upon her death. 

      Cindy Ann was born June 29, 1968 and Jim Edward was born during the Peach Days Parade... September 12, 1970. Announced over the PA system was, "Dr. Otto Smith there's a young lady at the hospital going to have a baby with out you if you don't hurry and get there."

     Ginger joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints around 1973. Soon she and I were called to take care of the Cub Scouts. We, being hitched and yoked up together again! My father said of her, "Ginger takes to scouting like a duck takes to water...!"  Being in scouting for 25 years, Ginger served as .... Den leader, Blazer leader (11 year old's), Stake Blazer Leader, Bird Heaven District Outdoor Activities Chairman for the Cub Scouts, Round Table Staff - taking and earning her Wood Badge training and beads, and being coach counselor for the Beaver Patrol & Wood Badge staff. With all that service, Ginger earned the much deserved District Award of Merit and also her Silver Beaver Award. 

     Was it possible to love something more than scouting...? Yes! .... back in '88 we bought the family ranch. For 20 years, she lived at The Ranch alone every summer. I was only able to be a weekend warrior, trucking in supplies after a long week at work... It has been said that the secret to a happy marriage is sleeping in separate beds.... Well, her's was 25 miles south of Evanston, WY and mine was 5 miles west of Corinne, during the summers. 

     At the tender age of 46, Ginger had a heart attack ... taking a double bypass to fix it during the county fair in 1995 .... By Thanksgiving, Ginger was feeding cows and was back at The Ranch in the spring of '96. Before her heart attack, she trained a pair of Clydesdales, Sassy & Josie. Afterwards ... she trained a pair of roan Shorthorn steers, Smoke and Tabasco... One of her favorite things to do when they were yoked up, was to pull deadfall out of the Aspen forests at The Ranch. Ginger's love for her animals was second to none!  She was able to call our cows, horses, goats, and all to us... Once upon a time Sheriff Leon Jensen said, "That woman can call the ducks right off the pond...!"

     Ginger was preceded in death by her parents George & Velma Britton and her adopted parents Robert & Nina Brown. Ginger is survived by her loving husband Roger Burt; two children Cindy Hunsaker and Jim Burt; grandchildren Ashton Palmer, Brianne Burt, Brooklyn Burt, Sequoia Burt, Sage Burt, and Stone Burt, Megan Nelson, Ethan Hunsaker, Clayton Hunsaker, Travis Hunsaker, Katie Hunsaker; and great-grandchildren Oakley Palmer, Aspen Visser, River Visser, Knox Hunsaker, Jensen Nelson, and Shaylee Nelson. 

     Ginger will greatly be missed by many friends, family, and animals. There was not an animal born that was not 'her pets'....

    Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11 A.M. Viewings will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023 from 6-8 P.M. and prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 A.M. All services will be held at the Corinne LDS Church (2335 N 4000 W- Corinne). Interment will take place in the Corinne Cemetery following the service. The funeral services will be livestreamed and may be accessed below.

     The family would like to give their thanks to: the Relief Society Sisters for providing a luncheon for family and friends AND to the medical and nursing staff at McKay-Dee Hospital and Mission at Maple Springs, for taking the time to listen and provide comfort to Ginger and our family.