Burdell Wakefield was born October 23, 1928, In Ogden, Utah, a son of Arlin E. and Hilda Richins Wakefield. He had the following brothers and sisters: Bob, Dick, Faye, and Arlene.

He was reared in Grouse Creek, Utah. He had played in the Grouse Creek School Orchestra and was and avid sportsman. He graduated from Weber High School and attended Utah State University.
He lived in the Ogden area since 1946. He married Gloria Hess on April 17, 1962, in Ogden. They had the following children; Burdell J, Cari Jo, Cindy, Ginger, and Rexan.

He also had four children from a previous marriage, Doug, Diane, Debbie, and Jan.

At the time of his death he had been working as a heavy equipment operator for Tutor-Saliva Construction Company. He had been a lifetime member of the Operating Engineers. He was a member of the Washington Terrace 2nd LDS Ward.

He died Sunday, June 14, 1987, in Cresent, California of heart failure and is buried in the Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah.