Yvonne Mansfield

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The world lost a beloved soul the morning of Friday, February 17, 2012. Yvonne Zita Mansfield was born in Southend-on-Sea, England on June 8, 1923, the only child of Frederick C. and Teres A. Robinson. She grew up in England and attended the Alexandra College for Girls in Westcliff until it closed as a result of World War II. After her schooling, she worked for Shell Air Force Service Command, then joined the American Red Cross, serving in England and the European Theatre until the conclusion of WWII. Upon discharge from the Red Cross in France, Yvonne obtained a U.S. immigration Visa and passage to the United States on a U.S. Liberty ship.

While in Marseille, France, Yvonne developed a friendship with Otto Mansfield, who turned out to be the love of her life. On September 15, 1946 Yvonne married Otto at a great uncle's home and church in Tacoma, WA. She spent the next 40 years as a homemaker in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oklahoma City, Butte, MT and Billings, MT where Otto had assignments with General Electric Co. In 1982 Otto retired and they moved to Billings permanently. Yvonne developed close friendships in the many places they lived, relationships which she maintained to the end. In addition to flowers, antiques and horseback riding, Yvonne loved animals and travel, passions which she and her husband shared deeply. She gave regularly to organizations like the Humane Society, Spay Montana and Heifer International. Her dog and cat were the light of her life. Despite a number of medical setbacks, Yvonne was determined to stay active and independent even in her later years, treating friends and acquaintances to regular lunches and visits.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Otto.

She is survived by cousins and family in England, family on Otto's side, including two nieces, Rebecca Cordray and Jane Cordray; two nephews, Roger Sykes and Clark Sykes; and her beloved pets, Tiger and Titus.

Yvonne was a person not easily forgotten. Those who knew her well had the privilege of experiencing her delightful nature to the fullest and witnessing the impact she had on everyone she met, even those she encountered in brief passing. Her generosity and compassion will live on through the Yvonne Mansfield Animal Welfare Fund which she and Otto founded for the benefit of distressed animals in Yellowstone County, MT.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, February 20, 2012 at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. The casket will be closed. Yvonne will be laid to rest next to her husband Otto at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park. A reception will be held at Yellowstone Country Club following the burial.

Memorials may be sent to Spay Montana (PO Box 4455, Helena, MT 59624) and/or Zoo Montana (2100 South Shiloh Road, Billings, MT 59106).

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