Rosemary Snyder

Rosemary Snyder, age 95, passed away of natural causes after a brief illness on December 9th, 2020 in Bellingham Washington where she lived with her daughter Kathleen Snyder.

Rosemary O’Connor was born in Terry Montana on the Yellowstone river on November 11th, 1925 to Mabel O’Connor, née Johnson and Arthur Daniel O’Connor. Rosemary was the youngest of six children and her 5 siblings have all proceeded her in death. Her parents had a ranch in Eastern Montana in what is now the site of the Medicine Rocks State Park. Rosemary grew up between the ranch outside of Ekalaka Montana and Pasadena California where her grandfather Cornelius O’Connor lived. Rosemary graduated from Baker High School in 1943 and at the age of 18 entered into a teacher training program that was part of the war effort to meet the need for educators. After her training she was assigned to a one-room school house where she taught grades 1 – 8 for the remainder of the war. In 1945 Rosemary married Joseph Snyder who had just returned from the Army after serving as a combat soldier in the South Pacific. They were married for 67 years and had five children, all surviving. Rosemary’s husband, Joseph, quietly passed away at the age of 93 in 2013.

In the early 1950’s Rosemary and her family moved to Nampa Idaho, where she completed a Bachelor’s degree from the Northwest Nazarene College. In 1960 the family moved to Caldwell Idaho where she took a job teaching at Jefferson Junior High School while completing her Master’s degree at the College of Idaho. She then took a position at Lincoln Elementary School where she taught for 26 years and was one of the most sought-after teachers for second graders because of her belief that she had never met a second grader who wasn’t eager to learn.

Rosemary was remarkably generous and always saw the good in everyone. Her home was open to all of her children’s friends and she was never surprised when new faces emerged, regardless of the time of day or night and would just set another plate on the table.

In retirement Rosemary and Joseph enjoyed traveling, fishing, gathering with their family and most importantly, each other’s company, plus an ongoing cribbage game that lasted for over 30 years. In 1992 they moved to Idaho City where they built a log cabin that Rosemary continued to live in independently until the age of 91.

Rosemary is survived by her 5 children and their partners; Joseph Snyder of Boise Idaho, Daniel and Arvi Snyder of Salmon Idaho, Robert Snyder and Brenda Ford of Santa Fe New Mexico, Gerry Snyder and Jeanne Arnold of Santa Fe New Mexico and Kathleen Snyder and Kevin Corsette of Bellingham Washington. Rosemary was also a proud grandmother to Chris Snyder, Dawna Snyder, Alison Sweet, Dan Sweet, Clayton Sweet, Taylor Snyder and Mack Snyder.

In her final years she spoke often of how blessed she was to have a been married to her life-long love for 67 years, to have a large and loving family, and she was especially proud of her career as a teacher. She enjoyed her lived history that covered most of the 20th century and a good start of the 21st. She was especially thankful to live long enough to see the 2020 election.

Rosemary Is Interred In the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery near Boise Idaho along with her beloved husband.
Due to Covid no service Is scheduled until spring or summer of 2021 when It Is safe to travel and meet.