Dean Snyder passed away on August 2, 2020. Dean was born in Sturgis, SD, on March 17, 1934. He did not have a bit of Irish in him despite being born on St. Patrick's Day. Never the less, he really liked corned beef and cabbage.
Dean graduated from Sturgis High School in 1953. He attended a partial semester at SDSU. During this time, his younger brother Dale, was killed in a tragic car accident. Following the accident, Dean returned to the family ranch to help his dad. Other than the brief time at SDSU, Dean spent his entire life ranching along the Eastern slope of the Black Hills near Tilford. His mother, Janice, said she knew by the time Dean was 10 that ranching was in his future. He and his dad, Clifford, added milk cows to the operation in 1950. They built a dairy barn with lumber sawn from and milled at the Tilford ranch. They grade A milked around 60 Holsteins until 1966. When the milk inspector told them the screen door on the milk parlor was hinged on the wrong side, they quit milking according to the story. Dean always said they got a lot done the years they milked because they got an early start to the day. He commented that he didn't miss milking but he sure missed the monthly milk check. Dean had a top notch set of commercial Hereford cows. He sold feeder steers to repeat buyers and bred heifers to neighboring ranchers.
Dean married Kay (Schryvers) in 1958. They built a small house on the ranch near Dean's parents and soon had to add a couple rooms when their son, Kenny, was born in 1962 and daughter, Sherroll, in 1964. Dean and Kay enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their ranch home. Dean and Kay traveled quite a bit. Kay was involved in several state and national organizations. Dean was her driver traveling with her across South Dakota and across the USA. Dean said his favorite trip was to the Holy Land.
Dean was active in the Sturgis United Methodist Church serving on several boards. He also participated in Meade County Farm Bureau, Order of  Eastern Star and was a 50-year Mason. He was a strong supporter of 4-H. His grandsons were able to belong to the same 4-H club Dean was a member and leader of.
What Dean truly liked was working on the ranch. He didn't have any hobbies except reading "old cowboy books." He didn't hunt or fish, play cards, or go to coffee with the guys. He just liked to work.
Dean is survived by his son, Ken (Ronda) Snyder, Piedmont; daughter, Sherroll (Howard) Scow, Sturgis; six grandchildren, Bailey Collins (fiancé Tony Palumbo), Andrew (Tacy) Snyder, Daniel (Jenna) Snyder, Michael Snyder, Casey Scow, and Hannah Scow; two great-granddaughters, Kynlee and Eiley; sister-in-law, Marilyn Asher; and brother-in-law, Larry Schemmel.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Cliff and Janice; his wife, Kay; sister, Angie; and brother, Dale.
Memorials have been established to the Sturgis United Methodist Church and the Meade County 4-H Event Center.
The family invites you to attend a memorial service in Dean's honor on Friday, August 7, at 10:00 a.m. at the Snyder ranch with Pastor Jenene Earl officiating. Lunch and fellowship will follow the service. Burial will be at 4:00 p.m. at Bear Butte Cemetery.

Click on link to view service folder