James (Jim) Ward Snider was born to Ira Ward Snider and Alta Marie Hathaway Snider on September 18, 1921, in Buchanan, Michigan. He was the second oldest of five boys. Marie traveled to Buchanan, where she was raised, to give birth to her sons. After Jim was old enough to travel they returned to the family ranch on Rosebud Creek south of Colstrip, Montana. Jim was raised on the ranch with his four brothers. Life was full of hard work, chores and lots of shenanigans.
Jim attended grades one through eight at the McKay Country School located one mile up the road from the ranch. Jim started 1st grade when he was five. His mother sent him to school to keep his older brother, George, company thinking he would get bored and want to stay home. He never did, because he was having too much fun. He told of many school shenanigans including the story of the Christmas tree hunt. “My brothers and I took the horse drawn bob-sled to school on a wintery day before Christmas. The entire school, which consisted of the teacher, Miss Viva Harris, the Lynch girls, and the three Snider boys, decided to go towards Cedar Canyon to get a Christmas tree for the school. The canyon narrowed to the point to where we could go no further. I kept looking for a place to turn the sled around. Being unsuccessful, we had to dismantle the sled and set the bobs on end. We led the horse around to the other end of the sled. Then we turned the pieces of the sled around and reassembled it. What started out to be an afternoon outing, turned out to be a long ordeal. I can’t even remember if we got the tree or not.”
Upon completing eighth grade, Jim and his brother, George, attended Rosebud High School. They boarded in Rosebud returning to the ranch for holidays with the rest of the family. The drought of the 1930’s made it difficult to make a living on the ranch. Around Thanksgiving of Jim’s sophomore year, his parents decided to lease out the ranch and move the family back to Buchanan, Michigan. Living in a city was culture shock, but after living there a year he felt like he fit right in. He graduated from high school in 1938.
After graduation, Jim worked on farms picking berries and then got a job at the Clark Equipment Company factory when he turned eighteen. He was drafted into the Army in August of 1942. He completed boot camp at Fort Walters, Texas and was sent to the South Pacific. He was a Sargent in Combat Intelligence in the Americal Division facing action in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and the Phillipines. Jim was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded (a Japanese bullet was embedded in his left arm for 30 years). He was also a recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and a life-long case of malaria. Jim described his exit from the U.S. Army, “I was honorably discharged from the Army of the United States on October 31, 1945, at the Sheridan Separation Center at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. My foreign service had been two years, nine months, and one day. My total service in the Army had been three years, three months, and two days. My final check was for $665.32– A hard way to make a living.”
Jim attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, graduating with a degree in industrial design in February of 1950. He worked as an industrial designer in Michigan until 1951. After one year of big city life he came back to Montana, having bought the family ranch by making payments all though the war. Vera Merle Estill and Jim were married on June 23, 1952. Together they worked to build a successful ranching and farming operation, eventually emphasizing raising wheat and hay. Jim was an active member of the community, involved with the Colstrip School Board, Rosebud County ASCS Committee, FHA Board of Supervisors and served as a director to the First State Bank of Forsyth for many years. In his later years, he enjoyed traveling and dancing making many friends in the process.
At age 94, on October 17, 2015, Jim passed away at his home in the Sweetwater Retirement Community in Billings, Montana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Merle, his brothers, Donald, Robert and George Snider; He is survived by his daughters, Jean (Steve) Laber and Mary Susan (Paul) Neiman; grandchildren James (Kate) Laber, Benjamin Laber, Michael Neiman, Matthew (Sabrina) Neiman and Rebecca Neiman; great-grandchildren Paige, Pierce, and Alan Neiman.
A special thank you to the entire staff at Sweetwater Retirement Community, who lovingly cared for Jim the last two years of his life.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2015, 3:00 pm at the Lee Cemetery south of Colstrip on Rosebud Creek followed by a gathering at Jim’s house on the Rosebud.
Stevenson’s and Sons of Forsyth is assisting the family with these arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Graveside Service with Full Military Honors
3:00 PM
Saturday October 24, 2015
Lee Cemetery
Colstrip, MT 59323
Service Schedule
Graveside Service with Full Military Honors
3:00 PM
Saturday October 24, 2015
Lee Cemetery
Colstrip, MT 59323
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Jack and Carol says
Karen just told me about this. So sorry for the family.
pat & george riedel says
Sue and family, so sorry for your loss, he was a great man and will be greatly missed
Maureen says
Sue & Jean,
I was so sorry to hear about your dad. He was such a kind hearted soul. I loved his sense of humor. May he rest in peace after he takes your mom for a quick spin around the dance floor of course! You and your families will be in my heart and prayers.
Love always,
Maureen
Andy and Gayla says
Sue and Jean we are sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Art and Marty says
Sue, Jean and families,
We are so sorry for your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Your dad will be missed by many.
Molly Bailey Barta says
Snider family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Jean and Jeff says
Sue, Jean and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Your dad will be missed by many. Your family will be in our prayers.
John Groom says
Snider Family,
So Sorry for the lost of Jim, he was a Great Man. Known him all my life, will miss him. God be with you all.
Buggs and Loni Hartman says
We are so sorry for your loss. Him was such a sweet man. RIp.
Pete & Debbie Nolan says
Jean, Sue and Families,
Sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Tom and Shirley Skinner says
We were saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. The family will be in our thoughts and prayers. He was a truly wonderful person, always had a smile and a greeting that would make you feel great! We always enjoyed watching him dance… I never saw anyone that could do it as well! He will be missed by many.
Harriet & Veryl Jansen says
Jean, Sue and Families, Was saddened to hear of the passing of Jim , a kind and good friend. He will be missed, especially when we go dancing. Enjoyed the time spent at his home on Rosebud Creek for his Birthdays and getting to meet all of you. We will be unable to attend the funeral as we are in AZ. Our thoughts and Prayers are with all of you.
Ed Gage says
Sue & Jean:
Your dad was a wonderful man and one of my heroes. It is sad that he is gone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ed Gage says
He live a good and long life. Wish we could be there for the funeral.
Randy and Cora Stennerson says
Sorry for the loss of your dad. He was a always a great host and will always remember him gliding across the dance floor at his neighborhood get together.
Jim and Ann says
So sorry for your loss. Jim was a wonderful man and will be missed. Loved watching him dance!
Donnie and Paula Peplow says
I will never forget the cruise with Jim on the water slide. So happy to have some wonderful memories. Jim’s adventuresome spirit will be missed. Thinking of you all.
Heidi Beals McClain says
Dear Jean Marie and Mary Sue,
Please accept our sincere sympathy. We are thinking of you and remembering your dear Father. So many wonderful memories come to mind and we hope that your precious memories of Jim are giving you comfort at this time. Knowing that Jim has reunited with Merle after all of these years has to be a most wonderful celebration! He waited until he knew that each of you were safe before he chose to gather her in his arms once again….and we know she has been patiently waiting for him!
We remember all the great times that our grandparents and parents had with your parents; the parties, the bridge groups, dances and church functions kept them busy every month of the year! Whenever we passed one of Jim’s beautiful wheat fields, Grandpa always marveled and said, “Jim can turn anything into gold!”
We are thinking of you with heavy hearts,
Love,
Debby, Wendy, Heidi & Mark
Donna and Lawrence McCulloch says
Jean and Sue and families,
We were saddened to hear of Jim’s passing today. Lawrence always admired his farming abilities and I will always remember him coming to wet vest class when I worked at the pool. We always enjoyed watching him dance at his parties.
May your wonderful memories and the stories you heard from your dad comfort you now at this time. You will be in our prayers.
Debbie (Boese) Swanson says
Sue & Jean,
I am sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. You and you families are in my thoughts and prayers.
Monte Russell says
Many year’s have passed(1958) since our family left the beautiful state of Montana. I have fond memory’s of Jim and Merle, and their great association with my parent’s, Hallie and Lee Russell. One of my fondest memory’s was that the Snider’s had a concrete swimming pool!!
Jim honored us with his presence at our mother’s internment at the Little Big Horn Battlefield in June of 2012. She always had great thing’s to say about Jim, and Merle, and considered them great friend’s! He will be missed, and all of the Snider family has our deepest sympathy at his passing. the Rosebud lost a great American!! Best regards from Lynn, Monte, and LeAnn
Noelle and Jim Dahle says
So sorry to hear of your wonderful dad’s passing. I still fondly remember him giving me a hard time at soggy joggy and his love for great music! May you take comfort in the many fantastic years you had together. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
The Torgerson's says
Sue, Jean, & families,
So sorry for your loss. What a great man Jim was/is! He will be dearly missed by everyone. We were blessed to have known him. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim and Donaleen Rogers says
Dear Jean and Sue,
I remember taking dance classes with your dad way back when, he obviously learned more than I did, cause he never stopped dancing after that! He was a great man and my dad always marveled at his wheat fields. The old “Snider trailercourt” holds so many fond memories for my family. Your dad’s vision provided us with a beautiful spot to grow up. May you be blessed by your memories.
Carol & Joe Oberth says
If Jim Snider were to be described with one word, it would be GENTLEMAN ! God bless all in his family.
Bill & Mary Evelyn Estill says
Jean, Sue, and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you! We have always enjoyed your family. So sorry for your loss. We know Jim will be organizing the anvil shot, potato shoots and dances in heaven!
Sharon & Del Dinstel says
Sue, Jean and Family —
Jim was a very special man and we have great memories of him. I always enjoyed going to “Wet Vest Class” with your Dad. He set a great example for all of us to follow. He had a kind heart, was a hard worker and a great dancer. Always liked to dance with him, he could really “kick up his heals”. Jim always took time to visit and brought happiness to all of us. We are thinking of you and your family at this time and sending prayers and hugs.
Keli & Elaine Remus says
Jean & Sue and families,
We were sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. You two are a great tribute to the kind of man your Dad was. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Hugs to all!