Dates

• Existence: 1885 - 1969

Biographical History

Clara Durtschi Burgener (1885-1969) was a Swiss convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints.

Clara Durtschi Burgener was born in Bern, Switzerland on February 8, 1885, to a farming family. At the age of 16, she graduated from the District School and wanted to attend high school (the Swiss equivalent of college) but was unable due to financial reasons. She moved to France and began working there while learning the language. While living abroad, her mother wrote her to tell her the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been visiting them. This worried Burgener, but she found herself unable to write back a warning reply. She visited her family at Christmas time and met with the Latter-day Saint missionaries. This soon developed into a testimony and a desire to move to Utah to be with the Saints. Burgener had an uncle departing for Utah, but her parents were unwilling to let her go. However, they did consent for her to go to Chicago where her older brother lived. On April 14, 1904, Burgener left Switzerland. It took months of saving, but she was able to take a train to Ogden, Utah before finding her way to Midway, Utah, where her uncle resided. Upon arrival, she met the missionary who had taught her in Switzerland. She was baptized and later married that same missionary, named John Jacob Burgener, on April 5, 1905. Following their marriage, they lived in Midway, Utah. In 1919, they moved to Driggs, Idaho. In 1927, they moved to Provo and then Lindon, Utah. Burgener wrote to her family often and after some time, they also joined the Church and moved to Utah where they were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. After her husband died on January 25, 1927, Burgener became a widow with eleven children. Three of her boys served missions and three served in WWII. She remained active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and lived in Lindon, Utah until her death on November 27, 1969. She is buried in Alta, Wyoming.

Citation:

Findagrave.com, via WWW, June 30, 2021 (b. Feb 8, 1885, Bern Switzerland; d. Nov 27, 1969)

Durtschi.com, via WWW, June 30, 2021 (Clara Durtschi Burgener was born to a farming family. At the age of 16, she graduated from the District School and wanted to attend high school (the Swiss equivalent of college) but was unable due to financial reasons. She moved to France and began working there while learning the language. While living abroad, her mother wrote her to tell her the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been visiting them. This worried Burgener, but she found herself unable to write back a warning reply. She visited her family at Christmas time and met with the Latter-day Saint missionaries. This soon developed into a testimony and a desire to move to Utah to be with the Saints. Burgener had an uncle departing for Utah, but her parents were unwilling to let her go. However, they did consent for her to go to Chicago where her older brother lived. On April 14, 1904, Burgener left Switzerland. It took months of saving, but she was able to take a train to Ogden, Utah before finding her way to Midway, Utah, where her uncle resided. Upon arrival, she met the missionary who had taught her in Switzerland. She was baptized and later married that same missionary, named John Jacob Burgener. Burgener wrote to her family often and after some time, they also joined the Church and moved to Utah where they were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. Three of her boys served missions and three served in WWII. She remained an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and lived in Lindon, Utah until her death. She is buried in Alta, Wyoming)

Newspapers.com, via WWW, June 30, 2021 (married John Jacob Burgener on April 5, 1905. Lived in Midway UT, Driggs, ID, and Provo and Lindon, UT. Widowed on Jan. 25, 1927 with eleven children)

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