George Wayne Snell, 90 years young, was born June 4, 1928 in Ponsford, Minnesota to William C and Jane Snell. He passed away in the early morning on September 16, 2018 at Bee Hive Homes in Hamilton, Montana. He was an enrolled member of the Chippewa Tribe of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota.
At an early age the family moved to the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana where he spent most of his youth. After high school he served his country in the Navy spending a good portion of his military time in Panama. He could spend a lot of time telling his family of his time in Panama which he enjoyed except for the heat.
After his honorable discharge from the Navy he worked with his father in road construction. While working on a road job in the Bitterroot he met Wilma France. After a courtship they were married on September 14, 1949 in Chinook, Montana.
After the marriage they moved back to Harlem, Montana where George started farming and worked for John Deere. While in Harlem they started their family; where Fred, Steve, and Sally were born. After a few years George rejoined his father in road construction in 1960 due to Wilma’s mother failing health the family moved to Hamilton so Wilma could take care of her mother.
After they moved Hamilton another son, David, was born. George continued working road construction throughout Montana. In the mid 60’s George made another career change.
He applied for and received a job at the newly opened Trapper Creek Job Corps. He worked as a resident dorm councilor whereupon he received many merits and accolade awards. Aside from his regular duties he also taught firefighting to the enrollees and spent many a summer fighting fires Montana and beyond.
This career change afforded him more time to spend at home with his family. George retired from Trapper Creek in 1982. After retiring her kept himself busy helping Wilma with various part time jobs.
He enjoyed camping, hunting, going back to Minnesota for annual powwows, and especially babysitting the many grandkids. George was preceded in passing by his parents, brothers Ray, Pete, David, Bill and daughter-in-law Sylvia Ann. He is survived by his wife Wilma, sons Fred and children JeriAnn, Paul, Robert, Hallie; Steve (Cindy) children Elizabeth, George, Serena; David (Marketa) children Steve, Jeremy, Amanda: daughter Sally (Bill) Neustrom children J.D., Nancy, Paul; as well as 16 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Friday, September 21, 2018 at 1 o’clock at Daly-Leach Memorial Chapel. Pallbearers will be Fred Snell, Steven L. Snell, David Snell, Bill Neustrom, J.D. Pape, and Steve C. Snell Honorary pallbearers are Paul Neustrom, Steve Hilgenberg, George W. Snell and Wallace Beebe. They family would like to thank the Bee Hive Homes for their loving care and support for our Dad the last few months of his life.
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