Earl M Rivard

Earl Morris Rivard passed quietly in his sleep on November 12, 2017 at the Powell Valley Care Center in Powell, Wyoming. Earl was 90 years old. Earl was born May 23, 1927 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to Leon and Sarah Rivard. He was the youngest child of 2 sisters and 6 brothers and grew up on the family farm in Rice Lake. Early on he developed a deep love for flying. He began flying airplanes at 16 and earned his pilot's license on the same day that he graduated from high school. He joined the Air Force out of high school, and after his military service, worked as a commercial pilot in Wyoming. He married Barbara Vanausdahl in September of 1948 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. When he was flying as a private pilot for Ray O'delle he was greatly appreciated for his work ethic and intelligence. In addition to flying, Earl worked for Ray O’delle in his housing construction company , and O’delle subsequently helped him set up his first business in Casper, Wyoming. During his career as a housing contractor, Earl built subdivisions in Casper, Gillette, and Powell, and also built homes in many other places in Wyoming and Montana. He owned several planes during his life, and continued noncommercial flying most of his life - still his first love. He retired from construction in Forsyth, Montana in the late '90's. In 2007 he moved back to Powell, Wyoming and lived there until his death. Earl Rivard was an avid hunter and fisherman, as well as having a love for camping. Earl and his family rescued everything from bum lambs to birds, and Earl had great stories about his pet badger, ground squirrel, squirrels, and his many dogs throughout his life. Lots of Earl's stories were about his experiences in the wild. Earl had a great love for people, and made friends with almost everyone he met. While in Forsyth, his great story telling and amiable nature earned him the nickname "The Govenor" among his friends. Earl Rivard is survived by his sons - Rick Rivard (wife Bev) of Wrangell, Alaska and Ron Rivard (wife Liz) of Snoqualmie, Washington. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Services for Earl Rivard will be held Saturday, December 2, 2017, at 2pm at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church  115 E 3rd St, Powell, WY 82435. Anyone who knew and loved Earl is invited to his funeral, as he considered so many people family, we also extend that invitation as family to all who knew him. Thompson's funeral home is responsible for funeral arrangements, and Earl will be interred beside Barbara, his wife, and Rayleen, his youngest child in Crown Hill Cemetery in Powell, Wyoming.