Earl Dillard Mansfield, 90, formerly of Burlington and Sperry, died on August 21, 2026, at Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions in Casper, Wyoming.
Earl was born at the family home in Louisiana to John and Lela (Reid) Mansfield. He moved to Burlington at age 20, where he worked at Leopold Desk Company and later, at Georgia Pacific. Fishing and hunting became favorite activities, and ones he shared with friends.
He met Marcia Louise Christensen thanks to mutual friends, and the couple married on June 17, 1960. They had one daughter, Gayle Ilene, born on March 25, 1961. The family moved to Sperry, in 1971, owning 14 acres of land. Earl farmed a portion of the land and also remained a factory worker. He and his family began the enjoyable activities of nature photography, bird watching, and feeding and providing shelter for songbirds. These activities remained an important part of Earl’s life to his older age.
Because of his love for the outdoors and the American west, the family to Casper, Wyoming in 1978, and in 1981, Earl and Marcia again relocated, this time to western Montana. Earl began working seasonally for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, working for the agency for nearly 15 years before retiring.
He and Marcia spent the next nearly 30 years living in Denton, Montana in the central part of the state. He pursued his love for elk and other wildlife by visiting the Charlie Russell National Wildlife Refuge numerous times and hiking and camping in the mountains around Lewistown.
In October 2023, Earl and Marcia moved to Glenrock, Wyoming to be near their daughter and son-in-law. They visited many natural places, such as national parks and wild horse herd management areas. One of the greatest gifts Earl gave his family was a love and appreciation for the natural world.
Before his passing, Earl was able to celebrate 66 years of marriage with his wife and his 90th birthday at which friends and family gathered with him.
Earl is survived by his wife, Marcia of Glenrock; daughter Gayle (Greg) Irwin of Casper; brother Shelby (Maggie) of Prairie City, Oregon; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives, and countless friends in all the states in which he lived. He was preceded in death by his father, John, mother Lela, brothers Anthony and Russell, sister Zannie Marie (Mansfield) Regan, sister-in-law Mildred, brother-in-law Victor Regan, and niece Tammy (Mansfield) Nelson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Dedman-Hokanson Animal Shelter in Fort Benton, Montana, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
No services are planned. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions for the compassionate care during Earl’s last week of life on this earth.