Raymond Sneller, 95, of Parker, South Dakota, passed away Sept. 2, 2023, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 9, at Calvary Reformed Church in Monroe, South Dakota.
Raymond Sneller was born on Aug. 27, 1928, to Henry and Dena (Koerselman) Sneller at Sioux Center, Iowa. He was one of 12 children. He graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1946. He worked as a hired man and married Carolyn Boone on Dec. 30, 1949, in Sioux Center. They lived on a farm west of Sioux Center where Raymond continued to work as a hired man.
In early 1952, Ray was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps and fought in the Korean War. He served on the front lines and was discharged in 1954 with the rank of sergeant.
Following his military service, Ray and Carol moved to Milan, Minnesota, and rented a farm. During the years that Ray and Carol farmed there, two sons, Wayne and Robert, were born in Montevideo, Minnesota. In 1959 Ray and Carol moved to a farm near Monroe, South Dakota, and in 1967 to a farm by Parker, South Dakota. They retired from farming in 1992.
In retirement Ray and Carol moved to Parker, where Ray served on the town council, drove the Cart bus and was active in the VFW and the American Legion.
In 2019 Ray and Carol moved to Touchmark in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Carolyn passed away Dec. 1, 2021.
Raymond made his profession of faith in Jesus Christ as a young man at the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa. He served on the consistory of the Hope Reformed Church and the Calvary Reformed as both deacon and elder.
Raymond enjoyed fishing in his retirement years and a good steak on Sunday. He most recently celebrated his 95th birthday with family at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.
Ray is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Rev. Wayne and Tamra (De Neui) Sneller of Luverne, Minnesota, and Robert and Janelle (Vanderweerd) Sneller of Parker, South Dakota; six grandchildren, Kari Dykstra of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jodie (Paul) Wielenga of Sioux Center, Iowa, Jane (Dr. Codie) Zeutenhorst of Luverne, Minnesota, Deric Sneller (Rebecca) of Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Jared Sneller of Parker, South Dakota; nine great-grandchildren, Kalli, Cooper and Jessa Dykstra, Jenae, Brooke and Sadie Zeutenhorst, Tobin, Evan and Kara Sneller.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carolyn, of 72 years; and stillborn daughter Lynette.