Velda June Cassell, 73, of Stapleton, Nebraska, passed away surrounded by family on May 24, 2026. A graduate of Ogallala High School, Velda was the manager of the North Platte Dairy Queen for more than 25 years. She volunteered with the Stapleton Fire Department—where she earned her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification—and also managed the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Stapleton. Velda regularly sent care packages to service members through the Hugs for Heroes program and was a devoted Nebraska Cornhuskers fan.
She is survived by her daughter, Faye Yost; son, William Cassell, five grandchildren; siblings, Dennis Dunlap, Ph.D., Robert “Bob” Dunlap, and Doris (Dunlap) Walker. Velda was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Vivian Dunlap; husband, William “Billy” Cassell; son, Jim Bob Cassell; infant brother, Keithie; granddaughters, Bristol Cassell and Luna Yost.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org, or to McCain Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 10 AM at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Ned Cooper officiating. Inurnment will follow at McCain Cemetery in Stapleton, NE.