Earle Snyder

Earle L. Snyder, 89, of Faulkton, passed away Friday, November 29, 2013 at the Golden Living Center in Watertown.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 6, 2013 at the United Church of Faulkton with Rev. Bill Hoffman presiding. Burial followed in the Ipswich Cemetery Visitation was held one hour prior.

Earle was born on October 17, 1924 to William and Mable (Pond) Snyder at Loyalton, SD. He attended a rural school in Liberty Township. During Earle’s childhood, he spent a lot of time with his Grandmother Mattie Snyder, who had her own home on the Snyder farm.

Earle graduated from Ipswich High School. He attended the South Dakota School of Mines for one year, then worked for the Hub City Iron Works until he was drafted into the United States Army serving in Okinawa and Korea, where he worked as a mechanic and photographer. After his discharge, Staff Sergeant Snyder attended college at the South Dakota State University for two years.

On June 29, 1949 Earle married Irene Kukrall. They lived in Aberdeen, SD where Earle obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree from Northern State University. In 1950 Earle was employed at Tri-State Milling Company, where he was hired as a Chemist. They lived there for five years in which time their son, Wayne, was born.

Earle had a great desire to become a high school instructor so he fulfilled that dream when he went back to Northern State University in 1955 and secured his teaching degree. There was a vacancy at the Faulkton High School when he graduated, where he taught Physics, Chemistry, Higher Math, and even introduced students to Calculus. Earle also headed a Photography Club, which had a large enrollment. Earle took a leave of absence in 1958 and received his Master’s Degree in Chemistry at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He retired after 32 years of teaching. In the fall of the year, he was asked if he would teach one class of Physics, which he did for seven years. Earle thoroughly enjoyed teaching and never had any regrets that he had made this career change.

From 1973 to 1981 Earle was an American Family Insurance Agent with the assistance of his wife, Irene.

Earle and Irene were members of the Powell Presbyterian Church, which was located 10 miles south of Ipswich. Earle held many different offices at the church and was a lay minister. Later, when the Powell church closed, they became members of the United Church of Faulkton.

Faith, family, and friends were important to Earle. He left a legacy of love and will always be remembered for his generosity with a kind word and willingness to help anyone in need.

Earle and Irene would go on vacation to the Black Hills every summer after he retired. They would rent a large cabin in the Black Hills to accommodate all of the grandchildren and their families. They all hated to have the vacation end, and would start planning for next year. They did a lot of fishing at Pactola Dam. There were quite a few golfers in the family, so time was taken for that, also. A lot of precious memories were made.

A nickname of “Mr. Fix It” was given to Earle by friends and family because of his ability to do just that. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren, taking them to the park and letting them help him in the garden picking strawberries.

Earle is survived by his wife, Irene; one son, Wayne E. Snyder, M.D. and his wife Gail of Watertown; seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mabel Snyder; his grandparents: Frank and Mattie Snyder and Cassius and Sadie Pond; Irene’s parents, Pete and Rose Kukrall; and brothers-in-law: P.F.C. Elmer Kukrall and Melvin Kukrall; along with his sister-in-law, Janet Kukrall.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Earl's arrangements.