R. D. "Butch" Mansfield Obituary (1926

Roy Dean "Butch" Mansfield, age 83, of Malvern, IA, died on Sunday, August 2, 2009. Roy Dean Mansfield, one of two children of Bessie Lillian (Bayley) Mansfield and Roy Wilkerson Mansfield, was born on April 4, 1926 in Malvern, Iowa. Butch attended school in Malvern until his junior year in high school and then graduated from Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, Missouri in 1943. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy on April 1, 1944 and attended Quartermaster School in Farragut, Idaho. He later served as Helmsman on the USS LSM #533. He received his discharge on June 4, 1946 and enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Butch received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University in 1950 and returned to Malvern where he joined his father, working at Mansfield Furniture Store and Funeral Home. Butch and Bonnie Lou Kruse were united in marriage on February 16, 1957, at the Silver City Methodist Church. They made their home in Malvern and were blessed with two children, Barbara Jo and Robert Wesley. Butch encouraged his father to enter into a partnership with Interior Decorator, Andrew Morrow, forming Mansfield-Morrow Interiors, Inc. They soon opened a second store in Lincoln. The business was highly successful and the Lincoln store was eventually sold to Mr. Morrow. After the death of his father in 1967, Butch purchased the furniture store and he and his sister, Lenore Hertz became partners in the Mansfield Farm near Strahan, Iowa. In 1970, Butch entered into a partnership with Neil McPherron of Glenwood, Iowa, as they established Mansfield-McPherron Furniture. In 1972, Butch and Neil opened a new warehouse style facility at the intersection of US Highway 34 and Interstate 29, west of Glenwood. They eventually closed their Malvern and Glenwood stores and continued to operate the new facility. Butch and Neil took the opportunity to sell their new building and Butch became a sales representative for Douglas Furniture, a Chicago wholesale furniture company. Butch retired in 1991 and then continued to work wherever the "deal" led him. He enjoyed selling cars for Roger Stacy and Terry Thomas in Glenwood and working at the Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home when needed. Butch was a member of the United Methodist Church in Malvern. He served his community by serving on the town council for many years and as Mayor. He was also a member of Malvern Rotary, the Malvern Fire Department, and the American Legion. He loved to fly his plane and spend time with his flying buddies at the Red Oak Airport. He loved to golf and enjoyed being one of the "near deads." He enjoyed traveling with his sister Lenore, with his nieces and nephews, and with his friends. He loved spending time with his family and being with his grandchildren and great grandchildren and walking his grand dog, Maddie. Butch passed away at the Manor of Malvern Nursing Home on August 2, 2009 at the age of 83 years, 3 months, and 28 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Rick Mickelson; sister, Lenore Hertz and husband Clayton Hertz; and sister-in-law, Eloise Kruse. Butch is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bonnie Mansfield; daughter Barb Farmer and husband Ralph of Malvern; son Bob Mansfield and wife Juli of Parker, Colorado; grandchildren, Kristen Kendall and husband Don and their twin daughters, Averie and Rylie of Brighton, CO, Cori Mickelson of Storm Lake, IA, and Janelle Mansfield, Keith Mansfield, and Scott Mansfield of Parker, CO; step grandchildren, Guthrie Farmer of Beatrice, NE and Dillon Farmer of Des Moines, IA; and brother-in-law Robert Kruse of Malvern; other relatives and friends. A memorial fund has been established. Interment in the Malvern Cemetery.