Final Salute

Burton Kay Sweat passed peacefully in his home in West Jordan, UT, surrounded by his wife, daughter, and son-in-law on June 4, 2026. He was born April 24, 1947, to his parents, Charles Albert Sweat and Lela Bethers Sweat, in Fruitland, UT.

Burton’s early life was hard but fun, where he grew up with 11 brothers and sisters, roughhousing, having fun, and learning the meaning of hard work. He worked on the farm for his dad and surrounding farms to earn money while he was younger. As he got older, in high school he played football for Duchesne and Wasatch High Schools, playing both defense and offense.

As he started his career, he worked at the Hub Cafe in Heber City, where he learned to be a great cook and developed a love for it. Later on, he joined the Navy as a proud Seabee and served three tours in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, where he received a Presidential Medal of Honor for maintaining the runways. After being honorably discharged, he met the love of his life, Jolene Machin, and they were married on June 26, 1971. Later, he joined the Boilermakers Union.

In 1974, they started their family with their first beautiful daughter, NiCole, and six years later they welcomed another bundle of joy named Brittani.

His wife and two daughters were his whole life, and he worked hard to provide a good life for them while doing something he loved. He traveled all over the world and was regarded as one of the best welders and foremen in the business. Later, he retired in 2007, where he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and, later, great-grandchildren.

Kay, as many people knew him, was an avid hunter, to say the least, as his life also revolved around deer hunting season and he always had a love for hunting. His home away from home was in the mountains above Fruitland, where he put many miles on horseback and in trucks and side-by-sides. He also holds the unofficial family record for most deer killed in a single year. He lived to hunt deer, and it was his second love in life. He quit many jobs to make sure he was in Fruitland hunting with his family and friends every year.

They always had a big hunting camp and also hosted many celebrities whom he guided on hunts, helping them take many trophies off that mountain range.

He is survived by his little darlin’, Jolene Sweat; his daughter, Brittani (Bartt) Ratcliffe; son-in-law Ryan Redington; grandchildren Damon, Rylee, and Shea; and great-grandchildren Nayvee, Jamison, and Wrenlee. He is also survived by his brother, Ronnie Sweat; sisters-in-law Colene Sweat and Chris Sweat; and Joe and Lorna Petty.

He is preceded in death by his first daughter, NiCole Redington; his parents, Charles Albert Sweat and Lela Bethers Sweat; brothers Fred, Delaine, Glen, Asiel, Lloyd, and Allen; and sisters Phyllis, Lorraine, Mariam, and Clara.

Military Honors will be held at 4:00 PM with services to follow.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. with Military Honors to be held at 4:00 PM with services to follow.  Services will be held at Broomhead Funeral Home, 12600 South 2200 West, Riverton, UT 84065.