The Life of Donald Ray Stapleton

Donald Ray Stapleton was born March 29, 1955, in Falls City, Nebraska to Raymond Lee and Lela Jean Stapleton. He passed away on April 7, 2026, in Casper, Wyoming and took his last breath in his GTO to the kingdom of our Lord.

Donald lived in Kansas, Nebraska and Utah but spent a majority of his life in Wyoming. While living in Big Piney he met the love of his life, the vivacious Belle Wassenberg. They were married on August 24, 1974, and celebrated 51 years together. On June 7, 1979, they were blessed with their son, Solomon Perry Stapleton.

He enlisted in the Army in 1972 and was trained as a mechanic. Don had a variety of different career choices from rough neck to roustabout, lawn care, garbage collection, custodial, was a jack-of-all trades and a master of several.

In his leisure time he enjoyed the outdoors going rock hounding, 4-wheeling, ghost town exploring and back roading. Don loved working on vehicles, especially classic muscle cars like his 1972 GTO. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR and was fortunate to attend a truck race in Las Vegas and a cup race in Atlanta. He was also a fan of football, basketball, baseball and the Olympics.

Don will be sorely missed for his sense of humor, generosity and tutelage of distressed children/people; i.e. Paddy Workman, Danny Bilbeisi and Joe and Donna Mae; that were welcomed into his home and became part of his family.

He is survived by his wife, Belle; sons, Sol and Dan; daughter-in-law, Andrea; grandsons, Ernie and Jude; brothers, Robert and Paddy; sister, Linda; half-sisters, Michelle and Cheryl; and many cousins, aunts and uncles and friends.

May God speed him on his next journey…

Services will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at First Christian Church at 10:00 a.m.

A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at Plainview Cemetery in Big Piney, Wyoming at 11:00 a.m.