Marian Luella Snider

Marian Luella Snider 1919-2014 Marian Luella Snider, a long time resident of Wenatchee, passed away March 18, 2014 in a nursing facility in Lynnwood, WA just after her 95th birthday. She was born on February 4, 1919 in Terry MT to Charles E and Letha Ann Wright, the third of five children. They were raised on a homestead 40 miles outside of Terry. Marian remembered it took 2 days to get to town and back by wagon in the old days. Both mother and father homesteaded 340 acre parcels of land as settlers surged to Montana in the early 1900’s. Letha was a homemaker, amateur photographer and a woman of the plains. Charles found his calling as a master mechanic buying and operating one of the first steam tractors in the area. Letha died at age 32 in 1924 leaving Charles to raise the young children with the help of family and friends. . During the depression, the family lost their farm to the bank when crop prices suffered an extreme drop. Undaunted, Charles went on to become a County Road Supervisor and eventually President of the Town Council of Terry, MT. The Wright family found ways to thrive on the harsh plains of Montana learning the lessons of hard work, integrity and community. Marian graduated from Terry High School in 1938. She enrolled in nurses training at Holy Rosary School of Nursing in Miles City, MT graduating in August 1941. Marian’s first job was in Missoula, MT where she met her future husband, Willard (also known as “Bo”) who had been hospitalized with a broken leg. After a whirlwind romance, they were married on August 16, 1942 in Missoula. Willard enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Force in 1942 and was stationed at airbases in Salt Lake City, UT and Lincoln, NE. Marian was able to move with her husband to each new base. Their first child Travis was born in Lincoln. After Willard’s discharge, the family moved back to the Northwest to be near friends and relatives. Before the War, Willard worked for Montgomery Wards in several locations. After the War, he was rehired for a position with Wards in Wenatchee. Willard and Marian had an entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to own their own business. In 1953 they bought a grocery store which they named Snider’s Home Grocery. They had two more children, Joan and Judy who along with Travis learned the grocery business by stocking shelves at an early age. The family lived in the back of the store, so all family members were available to answer the call of late night customers needing a quart of milk or a loaf of bread. Willard and Marian went on to own three more grocery stores, a hardware store and a partnership interest in the Wenatchee Travel Lodge. They worked long days and weekends, believing that you could be successful if you worked hard and took care of your customers. Retirement came in 1981. Marian was actively involved in her church, the First Baptist Church of Wenatchee. She also spent considerable time with Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center. In 2001, after the death of her husband, Marian moved to Mill Creek, WA near her son Travis and wife Barbara. Marian joined her family on numerous vacations and outings seeking adventures throughout the northwest including several cruises. Marian is survived by her children, Travis (Barbara) Snider, Judy (Brad) Brender and Joan (David) Simon; nine grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Interment will be in Wenatchee City Cemetery. A private family Celebration of Life will be held in Mill Creek, WA. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home.

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Marian Luella Snider

February 4, 1919 - March 18, 2014