Ruth Snyder

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Ruth Snyder, formerly of Powell, died on Dec. 24, 2011 in Spokane, Wash.

Ruth Berry Snyder was born in Nebraska. She grew up with horses and cattle, but transitioned to cars and airplanes by the time she left home. She enjoying flying, had her pilot’s license in her teens and enrolled in the Women Airforce Service Pilots program while at Stephens College. However, she opted to marry Stanley Snyder in 1945, and worked in San Francisco while he was a signalman on the USS Pennsylvania during WWII. 

They met at a dance in Ogallala, Neb., and enjoyed dancing for much of their 64 years together as well as exploring the outdoors, reading and cooking.  

They were both outgoing and had a curiosity about the world that enabled them to strike up a conversation with anyone, and find a common thread of experience to share with them.

After they both obtained degrees in geology from the University of Wyoming in 1950, they came to Powell where Stanley worked for the Soil Conservation Service. Ruth obtained a second degree in education and taught in the Powell public school system.  During this time, the family often went camping and they enjoyed wild game hunting and fishing in the Big Horn Mountains.  In 1967, Ruth and Stan went overseas where she taught English as a second language to the Thai Navy and the Lao Army while he applied his skills as land classification advisor with various international agencies in Thailand, Laos, Lesotho and Haiti. Ruth enjoyed teaching, found a way to teach in nearly every location that they lived, and touched many lives in the process.

In the process of working in many different countries and with different cultures, Ruth and Stan became global citizens and made many long-lasting friendships around the world.  After retirement, Ruth and Stan lived and explored the plains, oceans and deserts in Nebraska, Florida and Arizona (where she taught line dancing) before moving to Spokane, Wash., in 2007 to be closer to family. 

Stanley Snyder passed away in July 2009.

Ruth is survived by three children, Landa (Snyder) Vierra, Lane Snyder and Aurelie Snyder; seven grandchildren Travis and Dustin Wambeke, Chris, Jason and Ashlee Snyder, Jacob and Jenna Fisk; and seven great-grandchildren.

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