Donald Wilber Snider
Donald Wilber Snider
Funeral services for Donald Wilber Snider, 73, of Douglas, WY will be held at the Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, MT on Wednesday, March 21st at 2 PM. Interment will follow in the Miles City Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at the Cheadle Community Hall near Lewistown, MT at 2 PM on Tuesday, March 20 for friends unable to attend the funeral service. Don died on March 15, at the Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas, WY.
He was born to Dewey and Irene Hawkins Snider on January 29, 1928 at his parents' home near Lewistown, MT. He attended the rural Cheadle school and graduated from Fergus County High School. Don served in the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, WA before returning to work in the Lewistown area.
Don married Yvone Rumph of Miles City in 1951, and was looking forward to the celebration of their fiftieth anniversary on April 14, 2001. Don shared his love of ranching and working with livestock with his children and taught them to take pride in their work and to follow their dreams. Don helped start the Roy Rodeo Club, the Colstrip Roping Club, and was instrumental in organizing the Cheadle Volunteer Fire Department. He served as a school board member, and was active in agricultural organizations, and was always civic-minded.
As a young man, Don worked on ranches in eastern Montana and eastern Oregon. In addition to ranching, he worked as a heavy equipment operator on construction jobs. He ranched on Pumpkin Creek in Powder River county before returning to the family ranch near Lewistown in 1968. Don sold the ranch in 1988 and moved to Gillette, WY where he operated B Bar B Silver and Leather. He retired in 1993 when he started his courageous battle with heart disease. He later moved to a small ranch near Douglas, WY and was eager to see this spring's colts foaled.
Don was known for his story-telling, sense of humor and love of life. He enjoyed mentoring young people and he and Yvonne provided a home for several foster children. Don rode barebacks as a young man, encouraged kids interested in rodeo and always maintained his interest in the sport. Don found enjoyment in everything he did, and radiated his joy to those around him.
Don is survived by his loving wife Yvonne, daughter Sherry and husband Lee Fields of Douglas, WY, daughter Sandy Stahl of Saratoga, WY; grandchildren Tammy Stahl of Lincoln, NE and TJ Fields of Salina, KS, sister Madeline Grosskep of Huntley, MT and brother Ronald Snider of Spring HIls, PA; four step-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Jay Dee, and his brother George.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Home on the Range for Boys and Girls in Sentinel Butte, ND or to the library of your choice would be appreciated by the family.