Donald D. Snedeker, age 83, of Woonsocket, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at his home. His funeral service will be on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 10:30 AM at Spirit of Faith Church in Woonsocket. Military honors will be provided by Huron Veteran's Council. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery in Huron. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7 PM on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at Spirit of Faith Church in Woonsocket. A prayer service will be held at 7 PM at the church. 

 The service will be recorded and will be available on the church website at the following link:  https://sofwoonsocket.com/worship-service-videos  

 Donald Dwight Snedeker was born August 19, 1937, near Esmond, SD, to Corrie and Marian (Fennel) Snedeker. He joined his older brother Leo Roger and was later joined by a younger brother Ronnie. Their family moved to a farm north of Forestburg, where he spent his early years attending county school and graduated from Forestburg High School in 1955. 

 Donnie served in the SD National Guards during his high school years and upon graduation, joined the US Navy. His tour took him from the Great Lakes of Michigan, to San Diego, CA, Norman, OK, and Okinawa, Japan and was honorable discharged in 1957.  He returned home to SD and his passion of farming and worked for several farmers. 

 On May 31, 1959 he married a neighbor gal and friend from high school, Shirelly Johannsen. They were blessed with 3 sons:  Jeffrey, Mark and Todd.  During these early years of marriage, he worked from sun-up to sun-down in order to pursue his dream, purchasing their family farm, which he took great pride in. Along with working for area farmers, he also worked for Huron Ice Co., Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. and Armour's & Co. where he worked from 1964-1982 until they closed. He could also be found working at Bales C.C., and was a substitute mail carrier and later a full-time carrier in the Alpena area where he met and treasured many new friends. He enjoyed coaching a small neighborhood softball team for a few summers and some of those kids still remark "how much fun they had". He enjoyed almost any sport and made some great memories playing on the "Hinker Hay Moving" slow pitch team. He loved watching his boys and all the grandchildren as they took part in their sports, musical activities and Go-Karting and hardly ever missed a race. 

 Donnie was known for his love of life, good sense of humor and enormous kind heart. He was a hard-working farmer that enjoyed the outdoors. He looked forward to spring weather, new baby calves every year, checking his cattle and putting up hay. He even grew melons with Mark for several years and during this time he gained another group of friends all over the state that couldn't wait for his friendly deliveries, ready smile and wit. Tanner, Corrie and Tucker were pretty small at the time but, they still remember the early morning "melon runs" with Grandpa! If they only knew how proud Grandpa was to show them off to his faithful customers. In life, his passion was family, farming, and cattle and knowing he had raised hardworking boys and grandchildren!! 

 Donnie was a member of the Spirit of Faith Church and showed his love for God in the way he treated his family and friends. He was also a member of the American Legion and the ELK'S Lodge. Most summer evenings you could find him in the shop fixing a piece of machinery, planning the next day's work or just relaxing with family during happy hour. He loved oyster stew, homemade ice cream and any kind of pie.  Winter time was spent in his big chair reading a Louis L'Amour novel, watching old westerns, a good game of football, basketball, or rodeo event. He was always ready for a game of cribbage, and never let anyone beat him in a game of checkers—if you won, you knew you had earned it. He looked forward to vacations in Cancun, but couldn't be gone from the farm any longer than a couple weeks. He loved spending time with his boys and their families, as they were his whole life! He didn't have time for retirement, as there were always things that still needed to be done. 

 Donnie was a man of his word and his only regret was he couldn't beat his two- and half-year battle with pancreatic cancer that riddled his body causing him to leave his family that he loved so very much. 

 He is preceded in death by his parents, Corrie & Marian; sister-in-law, Lorraine Snedeker; in-laws, Pete & Lucille Johannsen. 

 Donnie will be greatly missed by his family and friends. So grateful for having shared in his life are his wife of  63 years, Shirelly of Woonsocket. 

 Son, Jeffrey and his three children, Osborn and special friend Courtney, Olivia and special friend, Serjio of Deadwood, SD, Bridgett and children Grayson and Delayne, Woodinville, WA. 

 Son, Mark and his wife Lisa and their five sons, Corrie and special friend LizBeth, Shaun, Nick and special friend Katie, Michael and Bobbi Johnson and their sons, Trevor, Kahle, Luke and Cooper, Patrick and Cheyann Johnson and their girls London and Emerson, all of Woonsocket. 

 Son, Todd and his wife Robyn and their two sons, Tanner and his fiancé Nichole, Tucker and his wife Kelli Snedeker all of Woonsocket. 

 He is also survived by two brothers, Leo Roger, Derby, KS, Ron and (Jacque), Kirkland, WA., Sister-in-law, Margie (Barney) Iverson, Kirkland, WA.  His 102-year Aunt Dorothy Snedeker, Carthage, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

 Memorials in Donnie's name can be made to Spirit of Faith Building Fund.