Virgil Lowell Powell, 88, passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Big Horn Rehabilitation and Care Center in Sheridan, Wyoming. Virgil was born March 5, 1938, to C. Wayne and Zelpha G. Powell in Gregory, South Dakota. He had one brother, Adrian W. Powell, of Maple Valley, Washington. He grew up in Gregory, where he graduated from high school. He played and lettered in football and summer baseball. He attended Black Hills State University (BHSU) in Spearfish, graduating in 1963. Virgil met his wife Marie V. Hoppe of Phillipsburg, Kansas, through school friends. They were married in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 2, 1969. To this union, they were blessed with daughters Meshelle in 1961 and Pamela in 1963.
In the summers of 1962 and 1963, Virgil worked for Montgomery Ward Company in Deadwood, South Dakota. Upon graduation from BHSU, he decided to stay with the company until a corporate decision was made in 1983 to close all stores.
In 1986, Virgil and Marie visited Bullhead City, Arizona, and decided to move closer to their first grandchild. They loved the hot desert weather. Virgil worked for the State of Arizona as an assessor for Mohave County until retirement.
Virgil enjoyed pheasant and deer hunting, fishing, golfing, gardening, traveling, and especially taking Sunday afternoon drives. He was quite a cook on his grill. Virgil loved his grandchildren and showed them how to fish in the Colorado River in Bullhead City. He and his grandson Adrian took a fishing trip to Ketchikan, Alaska in 2018. He also found ranch life exciting, watching the wildlife, and Wyoming sunsets.
After Virgil’s wife Marie passed away in 2016, he continued to live at home in Bullhead City until February 2021, when he moved to Wyoming to be with his daughter Meshelle and her husband Arlin.
Virgil is survived by his brother Adrian (Joan) Powell of Maple Valley, Washington; daughter Meshelle (Arlin) Cooper of Arvada, Wyoming; grandchildren Megan (Michael) Delk (daughters Raelynn, Arya, and Winter) of Custer, South Dakota, and Delilah Brunke (Jennifer Morris) of Rapid City, South Dakota; niece Valerie Soushek; nephew David (Mary) Powell of Maple Valley, Washington; many other family members; and special friend of the family, Linda.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and daughter Pamela (John) Ware.
Per Virgil’s request, no funeral service was held. He asked that his and his wife’s ashes be put together.
Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com. Arrangements were under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.
