Funeral Services for Virgil Burrell, age 89, of Page will be 10:30 am Friday, February 21, 2025 at United Methodist Church in Page.  Burial will follow in the Page Cemetery with Military Rites provided by the Page American Legion Post 315.  Janene Reynolds will officiate.  Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.  Virgil passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill.  Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.  Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.

Virgil Leo Burrell was born June 14, 1935 on a ranch southwest of Chambers, Nebraska to Ernest and Estella (Whitsell) Burrell.  He attended school at District 178 through the eighth grade.  In August of 1955, Virgil enlisted into the Navy and was assigned to the Helasron Two Anti-Submarine Squadron.  He was Honorably Discharged in July of 1959.  Virgil was honored to have served his country.  Virgil had a Helasron Veteran flag specially made to proudly hang with the American flag outside his home in Page.

Virgil stayed in Alabama and worked at a papermill.  He married Lorraine and to this union a daughter was born, Melanie.  After moving back to Nebraska, Virgil married Wilma (Weber) Johnson in Stuart, Nebraska on November 29, 1987.  He worked doing custom haying all across the Midwest.  In the early 1990's, they bought a farm near Orchard, Nebraska and raised hogs.  The couple retired in 1999 and moved into the house Virgil and Wilma built in Page, NE.

Virgil was a member of the Page Village Board, Page Development Club, Page United Methodist Church, and a lifelong member of the Page American Legion Post 315.

He enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling, and playing cards.  Virgil and Wilma remodeled an old school bus into a camper he painted gray. Their family referred to the bus as the "Silver Bullet".  Virgil was a very handy man and was always building or tinkering with things.  Virgil was always planning his next fishing trip or he would take off for Minnesota in the middle of the night because his family said the fish were biting there.  He would like to share his catch when he returned by having a fish fry and making his great granddaughter's favorite hush puppies.

Virgil is survived by his daughter, Melanie (Ronald) Sanders of Alabama; step-daughters, Jolene Emme of O'Neill, Linda (Rod) Anson of Atkinson, Sharon (Tom) Homes of Scribner; stepson, Steve Johnson of Atkinson; seven grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren; brother, Faye Burrell of Park Rapids, MN; sisters, Latrelle (Dewain) Vanderbeek of Sebeka, MN, Rachel Johnson of Laramie, WY, Wanda Burrell of Staples, MN; sister-in-laws, Carol Burrell of Riverton, WY, Sue Burrell of O'Neill; brother-in-law, Dale Brown of Broken Bow; many nieces and nephews.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Wilma in 2018; brothers, Victor Burrell, Foster Burrell, Roscoe Burrell, and sister, Virgina Brown.